FAYETTEVILLE -- Public library lovers soon will see more books on the shelves, more videos and library materials, and a better-looking building, said David Johnson, Fayetteville Public Library executive director.
Goals
The Fayetteville Public Library plans to build reserves for operations, facility replacement, furniture and equipment and technology replacement between 2017 and 2019, according to the long-term plan in the 2017 budget. The library also plans to save for six months of operating expenses in cash and investment reserves. In 2017, reserves are expected to be about $1.9 million. The minimum reserve goal is roughly $3 million.
Source: Staff report
"We'll be able to start putting more material out for patrons," Johnson said. "Now we are beginning to put back in place what we cut over the past few years."
The library board of trustees Monday approved a roughly $6.3 million budget for next year that includes making improvements to the library, putting money in reserves, preparing for an expansion and adjusting salaries for employees.
The budget for library operations is about $5 million. About $1.3 million is to go toward the expansion project.
The library can support changes thanks to voters passing a property-tax millage increase in August, Johnson said.
Voters approved 1.5 mills for operation and maintenance and 1.2 mills for the capital expansion, library board documents show. The 1.2 mills will be held by the bond trustee to pay for debt service for a future library bond issue covering a proposed $49 million project, the budget shows.
Board members said they hope to use the old city hospital property adjacent to the library for the expansion, but the issue of whether Washington Regional Medical Center can sell the property remains in litigation. The state Supreme Court may rule by the end of the year, Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the library will take several years to recover from previous cuts and prepare to expand, Johnson said.
During the past five years, the library has shaved about $1.4 million from its budget, Johnson said. Those cuts, in part, came from operations and maintenance of facilities. The library has started to show wear.
But that soon will change, Johnson said. Money for facility services went up from roughly $35,000 to $435,187, according to the 2017 budget.
Materials, supplies and the online databases budget went from $501,285 spent this year to $672,830 allotted for next year, the budget shows. The new budget accounts for more books, more digital book services and more DVDs.
Patrons should see a difference around February, said Stephen Davis, accounting and human resources manager.
Employees also are set to see a difference. The board on Monday approved a 3 percent merit-based raise and a salary-range adjustment.
The budget helps the library catch up to the market and covers the increase in minimum wage to $8.50 from $8, officials said. Some part-time positions also will be raised to full time, Johnson said.
The library also is hiring for a few new positions, Johnson said. The hiring freeze the library had since June 2015 was rescinded last month.
Several board members said they hoped the changes will help the library to become more competitive with similar markets and to keep employees. The library pays employees an average of about 8 percent less than similar libraries with similar positions, according to a summary presented by Blair Johanson, management consultant.
Metro on 11/22/2016