Squan Council Stands Firm on Library Cuts
Unmoved by public pleas to award full funding request
The Manasquan Borough Council at its Monday meeting stood by last week's move to cut $10,000 from the borough public library's budget request, defying pleas from several members of the public and library employees to put the money back on the table.
Despite pleas from several members of a standing-room-only audience comprised primarily of supporters of the borough library, council members, with the exception of Republican Patricia Connolly, defended their decision made during a special budget meeting last Thursday to cut $10,000 from the library's 2012 funding request in order to get the borough's overall budget below the state-mandated 2-percent cap on property tax increases. Conservative Party Councilman Donald Grasso, who has previously spoken in favor of the library, was absent from the meeting.
Library officials, including Director Carol Mennie, said during the meeting's public portion that the library needed the extra money to cover capital improvements such as replacing the buiding's 30-year-old HVAC system, but Borough Administrator Joseph DeIorio pointed to the organization's $215,500 surplus — more than 150 percent of its 2011 operating budget of $133,500 — as proof that they could survive the $10,000 shortfall.
DeIorio said that according to his projections the library's 2012 operating costs would be met under the council's current proposed budget of $128,000, but Mennie disagreed and said that they would have to cut some programs.
"What do you have against the library?" Mennie said of the council's proposed cut.
But council members were quick to point out that they made cuts to just about every borough department at last week's meeting that trimmed more than $124,000 from the 2012 proposed budget.
Democratic Councilman Owen McCarthy said cuts were made to the Police Department and Shade Tree Commission, as well.
Fellow Democrat Mike Mangan added that the police budget was actually smaller than the library's, which includes another $350,000 that goes to the county system.
"The library can weather this cut," Mangan said.
Connolly made a motion to restore the library's funding to 2010 levels of roughly $135,000, but no other members backed the move, killing it on the spot.
Smith
8:11 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The borough council members seemed very hostile towards the library. It should be noted that the $300,000 is paid to the Monmouth County Library system and NOT the Manasquan Public Library. They do not see that money and it should not be included in their operating budget statistics. I find it funny the council can find $1.5 million dollars for the only building on the east coast that was "damaged" by an the freak earthquake last year but cant find $10,000 to support the dedicated and underpaid employees of the Library which provide great community building programs for the town. Disgusted. Vote them out.
Oscar Wilde
11:29 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
come join us in the 21st century and close the libraries everywhere, thats what the interent was invented for.....INFORMATION HIGHWAY
Rob
11:46 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
They should eliminate the library and share services with Wall's with is very close and far better
Smith
2:54 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The library offers 21st century technology. Not only is the internet readily available for those who can not afford it but they offerer thousands of e-books that you can download for free with your library card. The programs for adults and children are invaluable for building YOUR communities. If you were present at the meeting last night you would have heard stories of how the Library was the first place many Manasquan residents went to when first moving to the town. Not to mention the book sales, rooms for public meetings and gatherings, letting the Boy Scouts use their back property for free. INVALUABLE and they were not asking for much money. In fact last year the library was the ONLY organization in Manasquan to NOT ask for any budget increase and even though the residents of Manasquan voted by referendum to fully fund the library has in recent years never seen any of that money, realizing the tough economic times. Can you say the same for the other departments?
Trish
5:34 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
@Oscar Wilde, I guess you have not been to the library in a long time. Have you read any good books lately? Good post from Smith.
Gabrielle Laporta Colts Neck
6:09 pm on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
It is horrible that they're cutting the library, but, physical books are really an outdated medium. Can't we get some funding for tablets for the kids!?
Rob
4:30 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
You can get all the same benefits by sharing services with Wall
Smith
5:34 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
You would still be paying the $400,000 to Monmouth county for those services and loose an important community resource in the process. You should learn how the library system works in the county