Funding question on the table
After pausing the conversation at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Boulder is returning to a topic that the city has long wrestled with: librar y funding.
Boulder Public Librar y has for more than 100 years been operated and funded by the city. However, due to budgetar y constraints, library advocates are pushing for alternative funding sources, including potentially forming a librar y district. The idea has been on the table since 2018, when the Boulder Public Librar y master plan was approved.
A property tax-funded library district, which could of ficially be established in several different ways, would provide a more stable source of funding for the librar y.
“Historically, as you know, proper ty taxes are among the most stable revenue sources to fund governmental services,” Deputy City Attorney David Gehr said in a Boulder City Council study session on Tuesday.
While library staff and advocates have for years argued the library is underfunded and understaffed, that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
According to Boulder Librar y Champions, a group campaigning for “sustainable, long-term funding,” 66 librar y employees lost their jobs due to the pandemic with four additional positions held vacant. The main librar y on Arapahoe Avenue is the only branch patrons can visit, and it’s operating on reduced hours, primarily for pickups and holds. Oth- er branches either are completely closed or are only operating on an appointment basis for patrons to pick up items placed on hold.
Boulder Assistant Director of Finance Kara Skinner in a presentation on Tuesday noted that the library currently has a budget gap of about $1.3 million because of the pandemic. The library in 2021 has an operating budget of $7.8 million, while an additional $3.4 million in administrative overhead costs is funded by the city’s general fund.
Should coronavirus-related health restrictions be lifted tomorrow, the library would not be able to return to full ser vice, according to Director of Library and Arts David Farnan. He said the 2021 budget does not include the $1.3 million in funding that would be necessary to bring back the staff lost.
A library district, which would extend beyond Boulder city limits, could be formed by an ordinance or resolution that would have to be approved by Boulder City Council and the Boulder County Commissioners. It also could be established through a petition submitted by at least 100 electors in the potential district ser vice area. That petition would go to the county commissioners, who could choose to adopt it or put the matter to a vote of the electorate.
Either way, an election would be required to establish the mill levy, though the timing on that is flexible and a vote is not required to occur in the year a district is formed.
Boulder Library Commissioner Juana Gomez urged the Council to “seriously consider” forming a library district via resolution. She said that would help answer questions and clear up any confusion about potential funding scenarios.
While the city would lose control of the librar y when forming a district, doing so could offer Boulder up to $14.4 million in budgetary relief. According to a staff presentation, it would free up $6.4 million in general fund dollars for other high priority needs.
Although Boulder City Council discussed the matter in a February 2020 study session, questions amassed Tuesday, in a “refresher” study session that went about an hour over schedule. City Council provided direction to staff and outlined questions and additional information that it needs in order to make a decision about the district at an April 20 public hearing.
Among other things, councilmembers agreed that they’d like more information about the financials and the process, particularly in terms of the intergovernmental agreement that would be necessary, since the city owns the library system’s assets and provides administrative support. Council also noted that it’s important to know what staf f may have to forego in order to take on the work associated with forming a librar y district.
“I think that’s a pretty critical component of how we move forward,” Councilmember Mark Wallach said.
The Council wrestled with the proposal, particularly the question of whether another tax-related measure should this year be on the ballot. Boulder is likely to ask voters to extend its community, culture and safety tax, a 0.3% sales tax that funds capital infrastructure projects.
Either way, staff on Tuesday were adamant that the matter is not one to be taken lightly.
“This is a really big decision,” Interim City Manager Chris Meschuk said.