| Author | Message | ||
     Joel Janney Citizen Username: Joel_janney Post Number: 34 Registered: 6-2004 |
Rebecca, I didn't realize you were part of the library or I would not have responded in that tone. If you look at the town's budget and spending in isolation from the school district and the county, spending has been increasing faster than town revenues. The problem has been exacerbated this year because a large part of last year's increases in spending were masked by the use of one-time revenues to cover them. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 6203 Registered: 1-2003  |
Here's an interview with Maplewood's Mayor Fred Profeta, on property taxes. http://www.propertytaxnj.com/articles/profetta_091304.html Funny, they spelled his name right in the interview but wrong in the URL. | ||
| Rebecca Raines Citizen Username: Robin_realist Post Number: 286 Registered: 10-2003 |
That's okay Joel. I get so I assume people know who I am because I post her fairly often. That's just a big head I think. I personally live on a budget and I know how to do it. Unfortunately, I feel that the library has been living pretty conservatively already and with this big of a cut, the public will notice. The library can only do so much. We're also going through a process of evaluation of services which includes input from the public in focus group settings. A cut causing reduction in services could cause the public to focus on that in the evaluation process rather than the overall performance of the library in meeting the needs of the community. It's partly timing. This is a one-time project and was supposed to help us find a solid direction for the Library as a whole and the Hilton Branch in particular. Cuts and reduction in services right when we're asking if we're meeting people's needs........ugh. Might be difficult to get past, but I'm not a survey person. Maybe it won't make any difference in the result. R | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 887 Registered: 3-2003 |
You know this might be a municipal service that could be merged with the Milburn library to create efficiencies and save dollars. Even tho we are able to use the Milburn library, it would be nice to expand, when our alternative is to cut back. | ||
| Rebecca Raines Citizen Username: Robin_realist Post Number: 287 Registered: 10-2003 |
It's National Library Week! What can the library do for you? Stop by the Maplewood Library and we'll let you know. (But just for National Library Week I will even offer a private tour to any MOLers interested, PL me and I'll arrange something.) Or maybe there's something we don't provide that we could and you can let use know. We'll be forming focus groups soon. To volunteer call me at 973-762-1688. By the way... you can all use more that just Millburn. I think there are about 20 libraries in the Reciprocal Borrowing and Lending program in Essex County. Some that are of interest are West Orange, South Orange, Millburn and Seton Hall. Just ask at the Circulation Desk of your home library for a ReBL card. R | ||
| Rebecca Raines Citizen Username: Robin_realist Post Number: 288 Registered: 10-2003 |
Reflective, Many places have county library systems, but I doubt people would be happy with that type of setup. We are really spoiled with the library services in each of our towns. It would probably even require adding another layer of administrative staff to coordinate the libraries involved. Not really a cost saver. But considering the possibility: It might be easier to share with South Orange since we have a number of duplicate borrowers already and every school child in the SOM district is eligible for a Maplewood Library card even if their address is South Orange. We might be able to reduce hours between the three buildings, alternate evenings or something, but that brings us back to Saturdays in the summer. South Orange Library is open, we're not and some Maplewoodians are unhappy with that situation. Another example of problems with reduced hours would be the Hilton Branch. Which came first? Less usage or reduced hours? The hours were reduced many years ago because of budget cuts, but the less hours the Branch was open, the less people used the Branch. It seemed to justify the closure. Now we've reversed that trend, trying to draw people back by being open more hours and voila! More people are using the branch. It's kind of like "Build it and they will come". Give them more and they will use it. So we've learned to be careful what we cut. Trying to cut costs by hiring more part-time staff and being innovative with programming (can you make it with paper and glue? that kind of thing). We also rely on the support of a wonderful Friends of the Library organization to provide for a few extras. Things like reading club prizes, but they can't pay our health insurance or heating bills and we can't rely on book donations to keep the collection current. And that's not to mention all those computers that need to be in working order. Everyone wants the fastest, most reliable computer to work on. We would also like to provide more computer training, but would need to purchase a dozen more computers as well as a part-time technician to keep them working. So many needs that the library could meet. It's all about looking at the possibilities. R | ||
| Chalmers Citizen Username: Chalmers Post Number: 116 Registered: 3-2003 |
I think it's silly for a town the size of Maplewood to fund two libraries. As a working parent, I would rather have one strong library with weekend hours and an evening story time for my kids than two overstretched libraries. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 900 Registered: 3-2003 |
At first, I let Chalmers' post slide by, and then I read it again. Let's get real! For years, Maplewood had a first class two library system. Then in the mid 90's as the democrats took total control of the Township Committee and the budget, additional municipal programs and services were added. A little more pork to be spread around. So, in order not to raise the taxes too much, annual parking fees were raised, waste pick-up cut back, residents were asked to pay for other services previously provided by our taxes, and of course, library services were slightly reduced starting with Sunday hours eliminated during the summer. This is what some on the national level term - Dem $ Creep. As in spend more on additional services, raise more in taxes, and reduce services. It's a perfect trifecta. Then mix in, astronomical school annual tax increases, and voila, a number of services must be eliminated. That's what is silly, Chalmers. Elected officials who cut back on this precious resource shouldn't be re-elected. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 216 Registered: 8-2003 |
Reflective, Could you be more specific about the "additional municipal programs and services" that were added in the 90's? That's a pretty broad claim on your part. I'm skeptical that's the reason the town is now cutting the library, but I'm always willing to be educated. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 901 Registered: 3-2003 |
Bottomline The fact that additional services,ect were added in the mid-90's is not directly responsible for cutting the library service in the mid-00's. My point was broader in that as muni services expanded each year, pressure on tax dollars increased, leading to reduced services. That's the creep, a little service cut here this year, a little service cut there next year and over time people get used to paying more for less services. Also, on the revenue side, this group had to get creative, because raising taxes had its limits. One year (during this period) the Township took funds specifically escrowed for the Swimming Pool and used them to balance the budget. The pool has always been self funding. Another year, games were played with the library funds. It was all justified, upset a lot of residents, and a new spending precedence was established. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 217 Registered: 8-2003 |
Reflective, You have asserted things like, "muni services expanded each year" or "additional municipal programs and services were added." There is no question that costs went up. They always do. But that's not the same as expansion of services. You seem fond of your little pet theory about creep, but you haven't put forth any evidence to support it. Please call out some line items in the Maplewood budget that increased due to expansion of services and programs. Be specific. Be specific about dollar amounts, too, so we can verify the effect on taxes. Perhaps you could consult your copy of the municipal budget and share your findings with the readers here on MOL. BTW, here's my pet theory. Municipalities are under intense financial pressure because of structural changes in the American economy, because of severe cuts in federal spending, and because of unfunded mandates at the federal and state level. I don’t believe it’s because local services expanded over the past decade. But it’s just my theory. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 903 Registered: 3-2003 |
Bottomline: No! You check it out - don't challenge me. I lived it and worked it. As others did. Don't act like a glib newbie rookie. You prove to me and this board that I am wrong. You either haven't lived here during the time period I referred to, or you haven't paid attention to what has happened in Maplewood. Pls note bottomline: you haven't commented on one item I have referred to. You are either ignorant of the historical facts or you are an official democrat spin dancer away from the facts -apologist. NB: an attorney term meaning note well, I like a lot of democrats, it's the official party elected, appointed elitist dems I am having an issue with, not the rank and file real people I rub elbows with. | ||
| bottomline Citizen Username: Bottomline Post Number: 218 Registered: 8-2003 |
Reflective, I've lived in Maplewood twenty years and served on the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) for seven of those years, at various intervals. It is through the CBAC that I became educated in the details of our municipal and school budgets. That's why I know you're blowing smoke. As for my personal background, I've been a Democrat ever since I was first old enough to vote, in 1972. I have been active in both civic affairs and Democratic politics since I moved to Maplewood. I am proud of my affiliation with the party but I am not a "spin dancer" or apologist for anyone. I know the facts too well for that, and anyway, I'm not a very good bullsh*tter. | ||
| ashear Supporter Username: Ashear Post Number: 1778 Registered: 5-2001 |
Reflective - if your goal was to be persuasive you have succeded. I'm persuaded that bottomline is correct. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 8175 Registered: 5-2001 |
Just noticed this thread. I think it is fair to say that during the Ryan/DeLuca years budget constraints and process were not a top priority. Sometimes, as mentioned above, they were caught with unexpected expenses and had to dip into the cookie jar, as was the case with the rather infamous pool fund incident. They needed money to settle a lawsuit, something a more accomplished budget process would have reserved for. I think the Profetatistas are more budget oriented and realistic. I also think that they realize that the level of taxes here are reaching a critical level. However, if the TC's decision to use all the back tax money from the Universal Chain site settlement in one year is an open question, at least in my humble (ok not so humble) opinion. As far as service cuts, I will paraphrase Abe Lincoln: You can satisfy some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can't satisfy all of the people all of the time. For the record, Millburn closes their library for both Saturday and Sunday during August and maybe July (sorry my memory ain't as good as it used to be). | ||
| Joan Supporter Username: Joancrystal Post Number: 5368 Registered: 5-2001 |
Reflective: I would also be interested in knowing which program increases you are referring to. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 6334 Registered: 1-2003 |
Reflective, is it possible that you just want to believe that the increase in taxes is from service increases? You haven't listed any, and bottomline was intimately aware of the budget process for seven years and refutes what you say. If you know anything, please share it. | ||
| Woodster Citizen Username: Woodster Post Number: 48 Registered: 8-2002 |
Bobk, that may be true, but we did not have service cuts and high taxes under the Ryan/Deluca years. We got our share of tax hikes but the services were great. This year we are looking at a 7% municipal increase and plenty of service cuts. (the library and the first aid squad) From what I heard this is just the tip of the iceburg. | ||
| Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 8187 Registered: 5-2001 |
Woodster, the year of the reval Vic and company put through something like a ten percent and raided the library and pool funds. I doubt if the final number is going to be anywhere near 7% btw. I know Millburn Library isn't open on weekends during August (I am not sure about July) and SO has limited hours on some Sundays (closed Saturdays) during the summer. Unfortunately the First Aid Squad has had problems in recruiting volunteers for a number of years and can't bill insurance companies for services, which the Fire Department can and does. Regretably this probably makes it difficult to justify supporting them. I don't like this one either, but do see the point. | ||
| Reflective Citizen Username: Reflective Post Number: 910 Registered: 3-2003 |
Bottomline: Thanks for your patience -it's been a really looong week. My initial response was to Chalmers' comment that it was silly for Maplewood to have two libraries. His opinion, ok, but struck me the wrong way as our library system has always -during my 28 plus years here, been a jewel for our community. At least it was, "was" being my opinion. I stated "additional programs and services were added", and alluded to "more pork being spread around". Some hypoberle and some reality in that second statement. You asked for examples , here are some, it is not inclusive. 1) Police Director added. Big Salary, plus legal fees. 2)Jitney service - started as a grant. But in a couple of years was picked up by the municipal budget. Does anyone know the real costs? BTW, the early morning drivers used to be certain municipal employees who either were or were not getting extre pay. They certainly should have been. A Jitney service for 400 residents? Out of 23,000 residents. In a related current thread Joan and Art (ajc) are going back and forth on this still very much current issue. 4)The almighty CCR. The Community Coalition on Race. Approximately $35,000 per year , for what? IMHO -this is politically correct pork. What benefits have all our residents derived? But a few affirmative action careerists have been given a new forum subsidized by an uninformed public. Our model is not the Shaker Heights model so widely lauded. This was known early on when the school board chose not to participate with Maplewood and South Orange. This killed the effectiveness of the so-called CCR. 5)A big time, $100,000 a year, multi-year salary was awarded to Dave Carew, Township Administrator. The multi-year and big time dollars was unprecedented, and committed major budget dollars. 6)Springfield Avenue spending. Whoa, need I say more? Probably. How many resources have been diverted from the regular duties of the Dept of Public Works to support or correct the deficiencies on the Avenue? 7) Bergdorf? see 6) above Bottomline, These were on my mind. The CBAC, of course, doesn't consider salaries. But to me, there was an awlful lot of new spending, which is part of our current budget. That makes budget funding choices even more difficult. Woodster: We had major service cuts under Ryan / deluca. They were in fact a little this year , a little next year. Plus, Woodster, under Ryan/deluca, there were major morale issues in the police department. Last I didn't mean to be so long. But Bottomline asked for my thoughts and I wanted to be responsive. |
