The City Council's Heavy Boot

Back in the late summer of 2005, the candidates for Library Board (there were 19 in all) were invited to ten forums in the community libraries to meet directly with the public and answer questions. Another of several other forums was with Insight News. One specific question asked had to do with experience in working with communities of color. Some candidates answered more in depth than others. Fortunately, at least three of the candidates with deep experience in communities of color are now elected trustees of the Library Board. To their company has been added Hussein Samatar, who comes from the Somali Community. And, it must be said, all of the current trustees have a sincere commitment to the communities of color.
Another question, repeated over many times was, “will you close libraries?” All of the responses from those who currently sit on the Library Board were that the future was too unclear to know if that choice would have to be made. Further, they said the issues were too important and too far-reaching to close down any possible options that might otherwise benefit the broader library community. At the time, the trustees were communicating with City Council candidates and elected officials, making the case for increased funding for libraries.
But now that tragic time is here, and it’s a good thing the trustees now in office said they would keep the door open to all possibilities. Inflexibility is not a criticism that can be hurled at the Library Board. It is working hard to avoid the prospect of closed and sold libraries while reaching out more broadly to others who can help with longer-term recommendations. No one on the Library Board wants closed libraries.
The Library Board’s work comes under the Minneapolis Charter, the City’s Constitution that describes the powers the people of the city give their city government. In the Charter, Minneapolis citizens give the Library Board the power to levy taxes for its operating requirements. This, as with all tax intentions, goes to the Board of Estimate and Taxation, which sets the annual tax levy limit for the city for the year.
This process is intended to give the Library Board its independence and ability to represent all Minneapolis citizens in the operation of the library system. Six of the eight Library Board members are elected in citywide elections. They do not represent districts or wards, but all of the citizens of the city.
So why has budget support for community libraries such as North Regional and East Lake Street been put in such jeopardy? These great libraries on the North and South sides of Minneapolis surely deserve better.
Yes, they do, and when a small increase in the Local Government Aid (LGA) was allocated to the library budget, the trustees opted to save that money for North Regional and East Lake. But, it was not enough. Nearly $700,000 was needed to provide the hours needed.
People ask, “Why can’t the library manage its money better?”
The voters of Minneapolis spoke loudly when they approved a new Central Library and renovations to all existing community libraries. The old Central Library was in violation of several city codes and was in danger of being shut down. 80% of the library collection was out of immediate reach of library users. The referendum passed with the approval of 67% of those voting. But what voters did not know (or very few knew) was that back in 1994, the City Council had passed a resolution that held property tax increases to 3% and gave the City Council authority to adjust the Local Government Aid (LGA) portion of the library’s revenue.
This meant that if the library raised property taxes, approved by the Board of Estimate and Taxation, the city would reduce the amount of LGA by the same amount. The result was that power over the budget was taken from the Library Board.
Most voters are unaware of the limiting controls placed on the Library Board’s fiscal role under the Charter. This has resulted in a 12-year history of shortchanging libraries.
The City Council needs to lift its heavy boot off the budget of the Library Board and let the public have the full service of libraries it is asking for.