Sundre's council recently rejected a modest funding increase request from the Parkland Regional Library.
The Sundre Municipal Library's manager Jamie Syer had presented the case outlining the reasons behind the request during council's Oct. 17 meeting.
“To cut to the chase, the budget proposes an increase in the per capita assessment of 16 cents per capita (to $8.04 a head from $7.88),” he said, adding that would for Sundre represent a $431 hike, bringing the town's total contribution for 2017 to $21,667 from $21,236.
“The largest increase in the budget has to do with staff salaries because Parkland has known for some time that their salaries are below the norm when compared to other library systems.”
When Parkland officials presented him with the budget, Syer said it was well prepared and that he was persuaded to support the request.
However, a number of municipalities had already declined, stating they would only be able to support Parkland's proposed budget with a zero per cent increase, he said.
Being a part of the regional library system provides plenty of perks for the local facility.
“It means that the libraries in our small towns and rural communities are part of something much larger than the building and the collection that you may see. As members of the Parkland Regional Library, our library receives free computers and those computers are automatically replaced or repaired as need be,” he said, adding among numerous other perks that the local library's Internet cost is also covered.
“I would recommend that you support the budget. The decision of course is council's to make.”
Later during the meeting, Vic Pirie, director of finance and administration, cautioned council that it would be facing all kinds of other cost pressures coming in the 2017-18 budget, he said.
“It's only $431 but it is still a two per cent increase that you're looking at…having said that, we also recognize that in this difficult time as well, libraries — especially free libraries — are very important, essential structures to have in the community.”
The services offered by the library translate into some strong benefits for the town as well, he said, adding administration also recommended approving the request.
However, several members of council expressed concerns about the increase.
“I can speak in support of going back, sharpening the pencil and coming back with a zero increase for this particular budget year,” said Mayor Terry Leslie.
Coun. Chris Vardas said the library helps many people in the community and that the facility represents in this day and age an important tool.
“We've given support to other facilities in other things that we do in our community to better our community. I'm thinking $431 to keep it going, I'm in favour,” he said.
Coun. Myron Thompson said there comes a time to “hold the line.”
While the councillor expressed a desire to support the library, Thompson also said a certain amount of sacrifice is called for during the economic downturn that has forced many Albertans to tighten their fiscal belts.
“There will be a time when we'll have to put a hold on how we're spending due to the economy,” said Vardas.
“But I really don't think a $431 requisition for the library that's good for the whole is a place that I would personally put the hold on.”
Council defeated a motion to approve the request and proceeded to carry another directing Parkland to revise and eliminate its budget increase. Vardas was opposed.
For the budget to be adopted by Parkland, it requires support from two-thirds of the member municipalities representing two-thirds of the population represented in the region.
As of last week, only two small municipalities — Czar and Norglenwold, a summer village — had yet to decide, said Ron Sheppard, director of Parkland, adding the decisions would be made this week. If those last members decide to get on board, the “yes” side of the total service population will have won by a mere 50 votes out of about 210,000, he told the Round Up.
“It is right down to the wire.”
