Rye Free Reading Room May Ask for More City Funding in a Public Referendum

Feeling the pinch from a, the Rye Free Reading Room may seek more taxpayer money to fund its budget by putting the matter up for a public vote in November.

Debra Julian, president of the library’s Board of Directors, spoke at Wednesday’s City Council meeting, saying that though the board preferred to enter into an inter-municipal agreement (IMA) with the city to raise its level of funding, it may have no other recourse than to seek more money through a Chapter 414 public vote.

A Chapter 414 vote would require that the library circulate a petition to put its funding proposal on the ballot. The library would have to collect signatures equal to at least 10 percent of the number of votes cast in the city during the last gubernatorial election. The measure would then be put on the ballot in the next municipal election, which would be in November. If voters approved the measure, then the library’s funding would become a separate line item in the budget that would appear on residents’ tax bills. If the measure did not pass, then the library would maintain its current level of funding. 

The library’s current budget is about $1.55 million. The city provides 73 percent of its funding. However, under a 414 vote, that funding likely would increase. Though Julian did not specify a number, she said the library would seek a sustainable level of city funding that would allow it to provide the best service to residents.

However, a 414 vote would be costly for the Rye Free Reading Room. It would have to establish a separate non-profit organization to launch a publicity and marketing campaign that would raise public awareness about its proposition. By law, the library cannot use taxpayer funds for this effort. Julian said the campaign could cost between $25,000 -$50,000.

She said the library’s board has been discussing a 414 vote for the last five years. The vote may be necessary if the city and library cannot come to some sort of multi-year funding agreement.

“Until we have a way to predict our funding levels. It’s difficult for us to create a strategic plan for the next three to five years and for us to go forward with our unions,” Julian said. "The overall goal for everybody is that we have sustainable funding for the library.”

The City Council would not have to give the library approval before it seeks a public vote. 

City Manager Scott Pickup said there are pros and cons for both the city and library regarding a 414 vote. Pickup said if Governor Andrew Cuomo’s tax cap proposal is passed, it could put a ceiling on the amount of money the city could raise to fund services such as the library. The city also would put itself in a difficult position if it entered into a multi-year funding agreement. Pickup said the City Council could have some difficult choices to make.

 “The 414 might exempt you from those choices, but in the long run this [public vote] may be something to consider if this thing [the tax cap proposal] gathers momentum,” he said.

Council members Suzanna Keith and Peter Jovanovich said they thought an inter-municipal agreement between the city and library, where the city has some involvement in the library’s labor negotiations, would be better than a public vote. 

“With the issues we had with this budget and the dialogue we had, I don’t think there’s the will to do a 414,” Keith said.

Jovanovich said one of the city’s essential functions is to provide library services, and that an IMA was the best way to achieve this objective.

“I would much prefer to go that route than a 414. I’d rather as a council we find some way to make a multi-year commitment."

Councilman Joe Sack said he preferred a 414 vote because the library has frequently touted its community support as a rationale for funding during the city’s budget deliberations. Though a survey last year indicated that 96 percent of residents love the library, Sack said the more relevant question would be whether taxpayers loved the library enough to grant it additional funding.

“Let’s go to the public and let’s have the public truly decide,” he said. “If the public does support the 414, there’s our answer. If they don’t, then there’s our answer.”

Mayor Doug French said that an IMA would be a better option for both the library and the city.

“I would not be in favor of a 414. I would be in favor of us really working together as partners to get some sort IMA that gives you some sort of two to three-year cost certainty and gives us some influence in the process.”

The library’s Board of Directors will meet on Feb. 17 to discuss its options. If it decides to pursue a 414 vote it would have to file a petition with the Board of Elections by August to be on the ballot in November.