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Library Consolidation In Discussion
(posted Dec 9)
Indianapolis Marion County Public Library has no official consolidation
plan to take over Speedway or Beech Grove public libraries according to
Jon Barnes, public information officer. It is only in the discussion phase
now. Barnes is referring to City County Councilor Ron Gibson's suggestion
to consolidate the libraries to help offset the financial crisis of the
new library that ran over budget and may leave a budget shortfall of $6.3
million. The City County Council does not want to raise property taxes
to bail out the library. In the mean time, the IMCPL will have to cut services.
State Representative Phil Hinkle said it would require state legislation
to implement consolidation. He said he has not been contacted about legislation
on the issue. "I am inclined to not support consolidation of libraries
for no other reason than to increase the tax base and spread the costs
of the central's overrun to others who have a perfectly functioning system,
ie Speedway."
Speedway Public Library Director Darsi Bohr said "the library board
has no plans to consolidate with anyone at this time," nor has the
board been approached by anyone about the issue.
Bohr explained that Speedway residents pay less for library services than
IMCPL patrons and it also appears that IMCPL is cutting services to reduce
their financial problems. "To consider consolidation under those circumstances
would not be in our patron's best interest."
The Speedway Library Board of Trustees voted to give the library staff
a 2.5 percent raise and to start a biweekly payroll system. The board will
continue to borrow from investments as tax distributions are delayed and
lesser in amount due to the property tax reassessment that returned property
tax amounts back to the 2006 rates. The board is looking for new appointments
as Kevin Bourke plans to end his service in January.
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