By Eileen Buckley
Niagara Falls, NY – Another funding crunch is jeopardizing the future of some local libraries. But this time, it's citizens in Niagara Falls who are fighting to keep their branches opened.
Two libraries are funded by the City of Niagara Falls. The Earl Brydges main library and the LaSalle branch. But this year, just like Erie County, the library budget took a big hit. It only received $1 million from the city.
Funding ends June 30th, and Niagara Falls Mayor Vince Anello says he can no longer afford to pay for the system. But Board of Trustee President Dolores Marino says they need $2.1 million to keep both buildings open.
The board already voted to prepare for a potential shut down.
"A shut down of a library is really a horrendous thing. It takes a lot of work. We would have to start an orderly shutdown," Marino said. "So if we have no guarantee of funding by April 15th, we will no longer circulate books."
Marino says they are already operating at a "bare bones" level. She says they have no control over a union contract for workers that includes rising retirement and health care benefit costs -- leaving little cash to buy books and other materials.
Plus, Marino says they pay the City $300,000 in rent for both buildings. But late last week, the City Council voted in favor a new 10 year lease deal. It will allow the board to use the buildings rent free.
But now there is one more hurdle that is up the tax payers. They must decide if they are willing to pay a separate library tax to form a school district library. Marino says the same referendum was rejected in 2001.
"It failed miserably. What we are hearing from the citizens is that they do not want another sales tax," Marino said. "I'm sure it is similar to Erie County. They will not pay for another tax."
The referendum is tentatively set for June 21st. But if it fails, the Council has also approved a plan to ask the Falls mayor to amend the budget, and provide library funding from one of two sources -- revenues generated from the local share of the Seneca-Niagara Casino, or the pay out the city receives from the New York Power Authority re-licensing.