WILLMAR -- Willmar Public Library was planning to close each Friday this year beginning Feb. 16 to help solve a $44,407 deficit in the 2007 budget.
But a $17,000 stopgap compromise recommended by the Willmar City Council's Finance Committee would keep the doors open through May or June until officials learn how much funding will be provided to libraries by the Legislature this year.
Library officials, citing a history of flat state and federal funding, requested $342,498 from the city, a 12 percent increase from 2006. But Mayor Les Heitke recommended, and the council approved, $298,091 for 2007, a 3 percent increase.
The increase was in line with increases given to other city departments.
In a Jan. 24 letter to Heitke, council members and city staff, Willmar head librarian Laurie Ortega asked the council to approve the full request. Without this commitment, Ortega said, the library would close its doors for one day each week beginning the week of Feb. 12. The choice was between Monday and Friday, and Friday was selected because it was a slower day.
ADVERTISEMENT
Also, she said other library programs would be greatly reduced or eliminated.
"We want to work with the city,'' Ortega said.
The committee discussed the funding request Monday evening with Ortega and Pioneerland Library System Director John Houlahan. Willmar is part of the regional Pioneerland system.
Also present were seven library supporters, including Mary Huesing, who spoke for Friends of the Library. Huesing listed the library's many services and programs, and she said the library "is the heart of the community where everyone is welcome.''
Houlahan said state funding is not the solution. He said the funding increase for regional libraries proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty would amount to $385 for Willmar because other regional libraries are also seeking a funding increase. The last increase occurred 15 years ago, he said.
Committee member Steve Gardner offered a motion, seconded by committee member Jim Dokken, to provide stopgap funding to carry the library through the time period when the legislative session ends, which is May 21. As part of the motion, city staff members are directed to find a source for the funding.
"I hear you say you need assurance,'' he said. "I'm just trying to find a way to say we make sure the doors stay open. This is a reasonable way to address the library's concerns.''
Committee chairman Denis Anderson said the council does not want the library to close. He said a decision to close the library would be a decision made by the library.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We said let's wait until we see what the Legislature does,'' he said. "After the Legislature does what it will do, we'll look at it and step up the plate for the library.''
Heitke, who attended the meeting, said the city must balance the budget for nine or 10 departments, such as the library. Heitke said he wants the library to succeed, but asked why the huge financial gap happened suddenly.
He said whatever money is given to the library this year sets the base for future allocation next year.
Ortega said she submitted the library's funding request last June or July and didn't hear about the 3 percent increase until later. She brought the deficit problem to the council in early December.
Dokken said he thought department heads are told "early on'' about increases they'll receive.
In an interview after the meeting, Anderson said he believes the council wants to work closely with the library to make sure it's fully and appropriately funded. He felt the proposed compromise shows good faith on the part of the council.
"We've got a stopgap measure in place. We'll continue to look at this. And after the Legislature's done, then we'll look at it to see if we need to do further adjustments,'' said Anderson.
Houlahan said he appreciated the committee's action.
