Since 1994 when Regional Asset District funding became available to the 44 suburban libraries in Allegheny County, those libraries that received higher levels of municipal support received higher levels of RAD funding.
But proposed changes in the formula to distribute about $5.6 million in RAD funding for 2010 would take the emphasis off local support and place it more on usage and distress level.
That means that some libraries, such as Carnegie Library of McKeesport, would see a significant increase in funding, if the change is approved in a vote by the suburban libraries next month. But others, such as Mt. Lebanon Public Library, would take a large hit in their level of RAD funding.
UPDATE: 5th Ward Commissioner Dan Miller has commented on this issue on his web site.
Link: www.post-gazette.com/pg/09134/969829-55.stm
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Friday, May 15, 2009
5 comments:
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A library is a top concern for many in Mt. Lebanon. We shouldn’t have to subsidize other areas who don’t have the same level of concern for their libraries as our residents have.
ReplyDeleteAnother million dollar hit to our community. Maybe the teachers can keep the other 10 libraries open at each school until 9: p.m. at night.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose of public libraries is to bring up the masses. I don't mind losing library dollars in Mt. Lebanon as long as they stay library dollars and they stay in our region. I would venture to say that a dollar of public money spent in the McKeesport branch has a much higher overall return to society than a dollar spent here.
ReplyDeletePeople in McKeesport can't provide the same level of economic support for their library as we can, so measuring their concern by the amount of matching dollars they raise is not a fair metric.
Does the new plan include a guarantee that libraries receiving a funding increase will have a larger budget? Or can the library budgets be held status quo with a corresponding decrease in the local government's contribution? Library RAD money should not be siphoned off for other essential government services.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, Bill.
ReplyDelete