Waiting game starts

POLSON - The price of a latte has been under scrutiny lately in Polson.

Proponents for the North Lake County Public Library District (NLCPLD) have compared the cost of morning coffees to the amount the mill levy would cost each tax payer every month.

The mail-in ballot runs from July 8 to July 27 and will increase taxes paid in order to fund the NLCPLD.

The Polson Library felt the need to drum up a levy as it looks to enhance itself through sustainable funding. Currently, the library depends on sources that aren't consistent, chair of the steering committee Jake Block said. The city of Polson accounts for 57 percent of the library's budget, with another 35 percent coming from gifts and donations.

"How would you like to depend on donations and gifts to pay your bills?" steering committee volunteer coordinator Bonnie Triepke said.

The city decreased its contribution by 15 percent last fiscal year and is expected to do the same this time around. The State of Montana and Lake County make up the rest of the pie.

In order to receive the money from the state, certain standards must be met, such as operating hours.

"Libraries are free to use, but not free to operate," Triepke said in a presentation during June.

The people funding the mill levy are determined by geographic boundaries, starting in the north at the Flathead County line, north of Rollins, moving south down both sides of the lake until it reaches Minesinger Trail. The west boundary is the west Lake County border running up against Sanders county.

The NLCPLD geographical boundaries aren't the only ones that use the library, but are the only ones that can vote. The geographical boundaries were picked as such because it reflects the majority of users.

That same area has faced an increase in taxes already.

"Look at it as an investment instead of a tax," Triepke said.

Block said it is true that 61 percent of the library's users live outside of the city limits of Polson, but fall in the geographic boundary for the levy.

According to Block, there have been two examples of library districts working in Montana. One is located in Belgrade, a city with a comparable population. The other is in Drummond. Polson and Lewistown are the only libraries in Montana that rely on gifts to purchase new materials, while others rely on tax dollars.

The proposed mill levy is for up to 11.14 each year, with one mill worth one thousandth of a dollar or .001. In order to calculate each person's expense, multiply the taxable value, found on tax statement notices or tax assessments, by the cost per mill (.001) to find the cost per mill. Take that number and multiply it by the number of mills in the levy (11.14). That final number is the annual expense paid out over the course of 12 months.

The amount generated each year can fluctuate, capped at 11.14 maximum.

"It might not cost us that much the next year," Triepke said. "It can vary, but 11.41 is the worst case."

The amount of the mill levy is determined in advance by the board, which would oversee the library if the levy passes, based on budgets for the upcoming year.

The library is asking for the maximum in the first year in order to find out what the costs will be and get a solid idea of what the costs will be. If the library becomes a district, money from the city, county and state won't be available.

"We could be doing different things each year," Triepke said.

In 2008, the library also proposed a levy that was voted against. That levy was less than the current one. The increase is going to be used for salary and operating costs with other plans staying the same, such as fixing up the building. The proposed budget for the library focuses on increasing everything the library currently has. The proposed budget, displayed at a public meeting in June, would be $448,237, with $228,873 going towards salaries and benefits. Right now, the library employs 4.5 people and would like to add one more full time and one part time position.

A portion would go towards operating expenses and building repair and $30,000 would be put towards books.

Right now, supplies are currently supported by gifts and donations since 1992 was the last time there was a tax-supported book budget.

The library, started in 1912, has seen an increase in card holders with 1,037 added in 2009 for a total of more than 8,000.

"We need sustainable funding to accommodate the increase in card holders," Triepke said.

Future plans include expanding evening hours and buying more computers. The library sees an average of 300 computer users each week that take advantage of the available computers. WiFi is also free, something many residents as well as police officers take advantage of.

"The safest place to be at night is at the library," Trosper said. "They finish their reports while parked outside."

The library would like to purchase laptops to teach technology and expand current programs, such as the story shuttle. Last year, 272 programs were presented to reach 4,419 people.

If the levy is turned down, the library will not be able to provide the additional services, according to Block. An idea has been suggested that the library should charge a fee for different services, but according to state statue, that will not be possible, as it was brought up at a recent library board meeting.

"It's my understanding, but I'm not quite positive of the language, that city and county libraries will be free to the use of public," Block said. "The Internet is a service of the library and will not be able to be charged to use."

If the levy doesn't pass, the library won't evaporate. It will still be a library, but services, including hours, will be on the chopping block.

"No, the library won't disappear," Block said. "That's too extreme, but the services will diminish."

Voters are encouraged to fill out their mail-in ballots and return them by 8 p.m. on July 27. Results of the vote will follow in a timely manner.