“Falling apart” is a sloppy phrase. Is there a punch list anywhere of the deficiencies?

Advocates for a new library did not claim the old library is “falling down”; that is a straw man version of what they said, which was that a) major systems in the current library (e.g HVAC) are old and expensive to repair and b) a new building would allow the library to respond better to modern community needs.

Like you, I would prefer to see the repair budget steady or increasing until such time as there are definite plans for a new library. Infrastructure, infrastructure, infrastructure.

The Library is a completely separate governmental unit. It has its own millage. It was separated off from the Ann Arbor Public Schools in the mid-nineties as part of the Proposal A legislative package. Under that legislation, the Library is authorized to levy a *permanent* 2.0 mill millage, with no necessity for voter renewal, ever. Strange but true!

This 2.0 mill “cap” has been reduced due to the Headlee Amendment over the years, and is now around 1.92 mills.

The Library was in serious financial trouble due to Don Dely’s embezzlement. However, due to belt tightening, the Library survived this crisis *without* going to the voters for a millage increase.

It is true that the Library is not collecting the full 1.92 mill tax rate now, because the branches have all been built and the Library is no longer setting aside extra money, over and above operating costs, to build a new Downtown Library.

Does anyone besides me find the often-repeated theme of “we are doing pretty well compared to other Michigan cities” a little lame? It may or may not be accurate, but not a very great standard for accomplishment.

@ Gale and @ Jack — I still think the city government’s budget is simply irrelevant to the question of whether the library should give cost of living raises to its staff.

I am a bit surprised that no one from the library or the board has stepped forward to comment …

The library still benefits from a big voter approved millage increase several years ago. They had an embezzler take home a whole bunch of $$ that were never recovered so they asked voters to approve an increase to get them past bankruptcy. Once the budget was made whole they kept the increase and that is why they have been able to keep building.

Good for them, it is a great organization and I hope they do build a new library downtown.

the city and the library have entirely different budgets and sources of funding. evidently, the library has managed its expenses better over the years.

Fred