Yes, the sales tax has an end date.

This is a guest post written by Douglas C. Carpenter.

In my conversation with residents about the new library proposal, the most common question I receive is “Does the sales tax have an end date?”

My answer is yes, the proposed Home Rule Charter amendment has a specific date by which the tax terminates. Actually, it can terminate earlier than the September 30, 2014, sunset date. The specific language on the ballot has the new 1-cent sales tax, if approved by voters, starting on October 1, 2011, and terminating on September 30, 2014, or at such time as it is reasonably expected that the sum of $20.8 million in such sales tax proceeds will be remitted, whichever occurs first. In other words, the tax must stop on September 30, 2014, or once $20.8 million is collected if earlier than September 30, 2014.

Currently the city collects approximately $8.4 million per year for a 1-cent sales tax, which means the new 1-cent tax should end on March 31, 2014. This means the new 1-cent tax should be in effect for only a short 30-month time period, but in no manner can it continue past September 30, 2014. A new library for the 21st century is critical to the future of Grand Forks and a new 1-cent sales tax is the best way to pay for it.

I strongly encourage you to vote YES on May 3rd.

10 reasons to vote YES!

The top 10 reasons why you should vote YES to a new Grand Forks Public Library:

10. Because we’ve loved our library to death.

9. Because books are alive and well.

8. Because our kids and grandkids deserve a brain playground.

7. Because the parking, technology, lighting and energy in the current building just aren’t cutting it.

6. Because meeting rooms build community. (And the current library has only one meeting room!)

5. Because the current library is overused and undersized.

4. Because libraries must be available to all.

3. Because libraries open minds and inspire imagination.

2. Because libraries advance people. (And people advance companies and communities.)

1. Because voting no is not a solution. (The current library needs serious help, and it’s going to cost a considerable amount of money either way.)

We need more space for parking, displays, programming, computers, teens and children, story hour and book clubs. We need more space for community. We need more space to grow.

Remember to get out and vote YES on Tuesday, May 3!

Funding the Grand Forks Public Library

This blog post is in response to a question we received last week, regarding alternative funding options for the Grand Forks Public Library.

At their April 14, 2011, meeting, the Grand Forks Public Library Board received and reviewed a formal complaint submitted by Molly MacBride in regard to accessibility problems in our library. MacBride’s letter was forwarded to City Hall for official review, and last week library officials met with City Attorney Howard Swanson and City Administrator Rick Duquette to discuss the complaint. We have also contacted Bev Collings, Building Inspector for the City of Grand Forks. Library officials will seek legal counsel regarding appropriate next steps for addressing the complaint.

Within the next 90 days, the 2012 Library budget will be prepared and submitted to City Hall. If the 1-cent sales tax is not approved for the proposed construction project, the 2012 budget will most likely include a request for additional funds necessary to address the immediate needs for safety and accessibility at GFPL. Budget requests are usually funded through the City’s General Fund, which is derived from property tax collections. Library officials will work with City Council to prioritize the biggest deficiencies at the library.

The American Library Association provides a comprehensive report at the end of each year, recapping the size, budget and funding source for all library construction projects. This is a comprehensive document to review if you are interested in learning how other communities have paid for library construction projects.

We are aware of three funding options for library construction projects:

1. Property Tax
2. Sales Tax
3. Private Donations and Grants

Many times, a blend of two or three sources is utilized. Such is the case with the Grand Forks Public Library.

The historic records in our library show that Grand Forks voters approved a public library levy in 1900. In 1904, funding for construction of the first new library in GF came from a private donation provided by library philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. As part of the agreement with Carnegie before his construction funding was released, the citizens of Grand Forks voted to provide the necessary operating funds for their public library. The City of Grand Forks purchased property in the center of town and provided the necessary funds for equipment and furnishings, staff salaries and ongoing operating budget. With that decision, future generations of Grand Forks citizens were ensured of ongoing service, free of charge, from a public library.

The current GF Public Library building was completed in 1972 using property tax dollars from a bond issue approved by voters in 1969.  Money from the Anna Lindaas estate was also used to fund the construction. The annual operating budget at GFPL continues to be funded by property tax dollars from the City of Grand Forks and from the County of Grand Forks.

With the proposed library construction project, a combination of revenue sources will once again be utilized:

• 1-cent sales tax would fund the entire construction project, purchase adjacent property as needed and provide furnishing, fixtures and equipment
• Private donations and grants would supplement the project costs and provide additional amenities such as a fireplace or an aquarium. The Grand Forks Public Library Foundation, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt entity, has been created to receive and administer contributions of this type. In November of 2010 and January of 2011, grants from the Knight Foundation ($45,000) and the Otto Bremer Foundation ($93,600) were awarded and utilized for community input and planning sessions for our proposed library project. Additional grant applications are also in the works. Although there are some grants available for ADA upgrades, no applications have been submitted for this funding, since remodeling is currently not planned at GFPL.
• Property tax would continue to be the source for the ongoing operating budgets.

North Dakota State Century Code plays an integral part in public library governance. The City of Grand Forks must adhere to these laws regarding any plans for our public library.

Mayor Brown supports the library.

Mayor Mike Brown

The Special Election for the proposed Grand Forks Public library project is just 12 days away.

When I delivered the State of the City address in February, I talked about the many exciting things that are happening in our City. I mentioned the Library and I acknowledged that I had questions about the proposed project that needed to be addressed before I was ready to support it with a “yes” vote. I encouraged my fellow citizens to study the issues and become informed voters.

Today, I am here to tell you that I have done my homework.  I’ve visited the library, studied the reports, researched the usage levels, and talked to the experts.  Concerns have been addressed, and questions have been answered to my satisfaction.  I’m ready to vote “yes” to the plan for funding our Library Project.  I support the proposed 1% sales tax to raise the necessary $20.8 million to build a 21^st Century Library for the citizens of Grand Forks.

The problems here have been clearly documented.  Our library is well used and valued, but increased population and expanded offerings have pushed this 40-year-old structure well past its limits. The Grand Forks library has the largest circulation of any public library in the state. Usage has increased every year since it was built.  More than 825 people a day visit this building.  Based on current usage, we need a facility nearly twice this size to accommodate the existing patron traffic.  We need more room for materials, but also for children’s activities, computers, meetings, study groups, teens, staff and parking.

Since lack of space is the biggest issue, a remodeling of the current building will not solve our problems.  We have opinions from multiple experts, and this building is not structurally capable of supporting an additional floor.   We’ve learned that the mechanical system in this building is the most inefficient model ever made, with heating and cooling running simultaneously 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  We also have serious issues of accessibility in this building, which prevent some of our residents from fully utilizing their public library.

These are significant problems that require big-budget solutions.  I have looked at the proposals, and it would cost approximately $18 million to remodel and add on to this building.  That is not a cost-effective solution, and it would force us to make compromising adaptations that are necessary when joining new construction with an existing building.  Total new construction is definitely the best solution.

The three-year Library Revitalization process that was spearheaded by local volunteers was effective in its fact-finding, research, comparative studies and planning. Their proposed solution has been thoughtfully developed, and it is the right one for our city at this time.

There is quite a bit of misinformation out there, and I want to help clarify a few things that may have been inaccurately represented in the past few weeks:

• The proposed library project will not exceed the $20.8 million budget as stated on the special election ballot.  All funding for the project will be provided by the temporary 1% sales tax.  As soon as the $20.8 million is raised, the sales tax is retired.  It’s ended.

•  The library will be located right here where the existing building stands, with adjacent property as needed to accommodate the plan.

• Voting “no” is not a solution.  There are serious deficiencies at our library. Many of these problems need to be corrected immediately.  Voting “no” will only prolong the problems, and in some cases the costs for correction will grow higher as each month passes.  How will we deal with the safety and accessibility issues?

• The public library is our responsibility.  The money for necessary upgrades, improvements and corrections must come from us.  A 1-cent sales tax is a funding mechanism that is less burdensome to residents, with a defined sunset that will be retired in three years or less.

• It is not a Taj Mahal that’s being proposed here.  It’s a functional library.  A library to provide our citizens with the necessary resources to compete in the classroom, the workforce, and everyday life.

If you are undecided on this issue, it’s time to do your homework. Ask questions, read the consultant reports, learn about the site selection process, and get a better understanding of the project scope.  This information is all available at the library website: www.gflibrary.com  If you prefer, you can request copies of the documents at the reference desk right here in the library.

To post specific questions regarding the project and to review the ongoing dialogue within our community, visit www.speakupforyourlibrary.com.  Information on this site is updated several times each day.

Most important of all, prepare yourself as an educated voter and go to the polls on Tuesday, May 3.

I urge you to join me in voting “yes” to lifelong learning.  “Yes” to informed citizens of all ages.  “Yes” to a resourceful and connected community.

Vote “yes” to fund the proposed project that will provide our residents with the 21^st Century Library we deserve.

As Mayor Brown said – educate yourself and ask questions before you vote. We invite you to ask questions right here in the comments.

3 clarifications about tax and location.

The hard-working volunteers, who have piloted the GF Public Library Revitalization Project for more than three years, appreciate this opportunity to correct erroneous information that has been distributed and redistributed recently through a very deceiving email thread.

The majority of the information in the email message was based on conjecture and untruths. The most egregious of the misstatements are corrected here:

1. The amount of public dollars (sales tax revenue) to be spent for all costs needed to construct, furnish and equip a new library will not exceed $20.8 million.
2. Property tax revenue will not be used for the proposed library construction project.
3. The new library will be built at and on property or properties adjacent to the existing building at Library Circle and Library Lane, Grand Forks, N.D.
   (Source:  Minutes of the March 9, 2011, meeting of the Grand Forks Public Library Board.)

It’s important for Grand Forks voters to be correctly informed about the proposed library project. Our library website contains complete information on current usage data, consultant’s reports, feasibility studies/traffic studies authorized by City Council and official meeting minutes from the three years of working through the planning process.

Probably most important: Visit the library and see for yourself. GFPL has 825 visitors per day checking out almost 2,400 items daily. That’s more than any other public library in North Dakota.

The problems at our 40-year-old library will not disappear with a “no” vote on May 3. Total lack of ADA compliance, exploding light fixtures causing fire, antiquated HVAC systems, insufficient space for materials, programming, meetings and parking, as well as total absence of insulating material will continue to render our library inefficient, hazardous and noncompliant.

Let’s rectify the problems by approving a carefully researched, all-encompassing solution paid by a 1-cent sales tax with a hard sunset clause.

Vote “yes” on May 3 to provide the citizens of Grand Forks City and County with a 21^st Century public library.

Immediate needs at the Grand Forks Public Library.

The Library Board and Task Force members are very concerned about the immediate needs of the Grand Forks Public Library should the May 3 ballot measure fail for the proposed 1-cent sales tax. We have several issues that will require City Council intervention (in the form of property tax dollars) such as:

A wheelchair user and GFPL patron demonstrates the difficulty of accessing the librarys non-ADA-compliant shelves.

• The elevator MUST be replaced in 2012 (mandated by manufacturer).
• The bathrooms have to be made ADA-compliant – entrances and stalls.
• The stacks need to be made ADA-compliant – get rid of about 1/3 of the existing shelving, maybe more.
• The HVAC system needs to be replaced.
• The lighting system needs to be replaced (they’re extremely dangerous and have caused two fires).

With no long-term plan to rectify these deficiencies, immediate stop-gap corrections must be put in place. The Grand Forks City Council would be the appropriate governing body to make decisions regarding the inadequacies at the public library. Depending on how comprehensively the problems are addressed, our best guess for an initial cost estimate is between $2 and $5 million. It’s going to cost tax dollars, one way or another.

With stop-gap corrections, the space shortages at GFPL are completely ignored. Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy way to arrive at a cost-effective solution for the lack of square footage. One of the proposed construction options during the three-year Library Revitalization Process was a remodel and addition to the existing building. The total budget for that option came in at $17,815,000 – nearly as much as for totally new construction.

There are several structural challenges with the existing building that create significant issues for a remodel/expand. The 1972 building, although originally intended for second-floor expansion, was not constructed with sufficient ceiling height to accommodate the HVAC and lighting requirements of a 21^st Century Public Library.

Read more about these issues in the GF Library Site Feasibility Study prepared for City Council in January 2011. See pages 12-14 for budget specifics on the remodel/add option.

Time lapse videos of the Grand Forks Public Library.

Ever wonder what more than 800 visitors per day looks like? Here are two time lapse videos of a day in the life of the Grand Forks Public Library. These should give you a better picture of the library’s daily hustle and bustle.

The main lobby:

And the children’s department:

The 800+ visitors per day check out an average of almost 2,400 items daily. That’s more than any other public library in North Dakota.

To catch up, we need a building almost twice the size of our current one. It’s a $20.8 million project, funded by enough “Yes” votes,  by a 1-cent sales tax for 30 months.

We hope these videos further convince you of the need to vote “Yes” on May 3.