Fallsnewspress.com - Library officials concerned about possible state cuts

Special to Record Publishing Co. Cuyahoga Falls Library officials are concerned about a proposal that would cut state funding to local libraries.

by Ellin Walsh and
Phil Keren

Reporter, Editor

Cuyahoga Falls -- Spending cuts proposed for Ohio's public libraries by Gov. Ted Strickland could have a "catastrophic effect," according to Cuyahoga Falls Library officials.

Strickland announced $2.4 billion in spending cuts June 19, including a $112 million cut to Ohio's 251 library systems, two-thirds of which do not have a local property tax levy to rely on.

Lynda Murray of the Ohio Library Council says some libraries may have to cut their hours in half.

Kevin Rosswurm, the director of the Cuyahoga Falls Library, said his facility received about $1.6 million in state funding last year. Under the proposal, Rosswurm estimates the library would lose approximately $800,000 a year in state money. He said it would have a "huge impact" on the library's operations.

"We'd have to make cuts across the board," said Rosswurm. An e-mail being circulated by the Cuyahoga Falls Library states, "Governor Strickland's latest budget proposal ... will have an immediate, direct, and catastrophic effect on the Cuyahoga Falls Library. We will have to cut hours, programs, books, and DVDs. Every service the library offers has to be slashed."

Falls Library officials are encouraging the public to call or e-mail the governor and legislators demanding the reinstatement of the Public Library Fund.

Rosswurm said the Falls Library receives about 60 percent to 70 percent of its income from the state source.

"If that's cut in half, it would just be catastrophic for the library," said Rosswurm.

"Last year was the busiest year in the history of the library," Rosswurm reported. "We had 380,000 visitors and charged out 935,000 items. This year we are even busier and will break all of our service records."

The state money comes from the Public Library Fund, which receives 2.2 percent of the state's general revenue fund. In 2008, 60 percent of the Cuyahoga Falls Library's income came from the state's Public Library Fund, 39 percent came from the library's property tax levy, and 1 percent came from miscellaneous sources, like fines, interest and donations.

Rosswurm said the library receives state money on a monthly basis.

If this cut is adopted as part of the state's biennial budget, which begins July 1, it would "go into effect immediately," said Rosswurm, and be in effect for the next two years.

"No one had anticipated it [the proposed decrease] at all," said Rosswurm, who noted the library had budgeted for an 8 percent reduction in state funding this year.

The Falls Library has a local levy that helps fund its operations. It was approved in November 2006, and Rosswurm said the library started collecting the tax in 2007. The levy is five years in duration and is being collected at 1.3 mills.

"In 2008, we received $1,033,244 from the levy," Rosswurm said, adding, "This year we anticipate receiving $1 million."

Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.

E-mail: ewalsh@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3908