Below is a summary of the proposed FY2010 budget for the DC Public Library. The Mayor is proposing to keep funding for the library stable at 2009 levels while cutting the entire Library Police force in favor of using the security services provided in other District buildings. The cost savings of that decision are then used to provide for the staff and funding needed to open the new libraries that are planned for 2010.
The capital budget provides funding to complete work on four more branch libraries and lays out funding of $93 million through 2015 for other branch projects. The Mayor states that a DCPL Master Facility Study is underway that will guide future plans.
Your opportunity to either support or challenge the Mayor’s Proposed Budget will be at a Hearing of the Council Committee on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 10:00 am in room 412 at the Council Building at 14th and Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
Operating Budget
The Mayor has proposed a .03% increase in the DC Public Library Budget for 2010, going from $46,063,933 to $46,215,559. The staff level for the library however has been reduced further for 2010 from 478.6 to 464.2.
The reduction in staffing reflects the elimination of the Library Policy Division including 22.5 positions of special police officers. In its place, DCPL will transfer $370,000 to the Office of Property Management, Protective Services Division, for building security services. The total net savings is projected to be $1,238,000. In addition, the proposed budget reduces overtime by $305,000 and supplies for operational support by $134,000. Finally, the budget reflects revised assessments for fixed costs at a savings of $210,000.
“The proposed budget does not eliminate positions providing direct library services, does not require a further reduction of library hours and does not reduce budget lines for library collections.”
“The proposed budget supports the anticipated opening of as many as five new branch libraries in 2010. Library staff positions will increase by 8.25 (representing 11 positions filled one-quarter into FY2010). New libraries will receive a one-time investment of approximately $520,000 in computers and associated IT equipment and approximately $446,000 for new books and collection materials.”
Capital Budget
The Mayor expressed the following objectives for DCPL’s capital budget:
- Replace or upgrade libraries to provide modern facilities that better serve residents of the District in the 21st century.
- Develop an overall Master Library Facility Study to direct the development and planning of new or renovated facilities or the co-location of libraries with like uses.
- Implement general improvement projects on facilities that are not part of the initial improvement and transformation effort.
- Continue refining needs for Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library and seeking replacement locations for central library services.
According to the documentation provided, DCPL is carrying over $53,063,000 in capital authority. In 2010, the Mayor has requested an additional $11,238,000 and, between 2010 and 2015, an increase of $132,010,000. The Capital Budget does not reflect funding already obligated to contracts. Therefore, nothing is reported for Tenley, Shaw, Benning, Anacostia or Georgetown .
The only facilities explicitly funded are Mount Pleasant ($10,530,000), Washington Highlands $12,335,000), Francis Gregory ($11,461,000), and Petworth ($12,332,000). In addition to these projects, the Mayor has requested $953,000 in 2010 for general improvements and $18,000 for improvements to neighborhood libraries. In the 6-year plan however, general improvements would receive $15,383,000 and neighborhood libraries would receive $93,768,000.