Library budget needs review

To the editor:

Cedar Rapids voters may be asked to pay for services that are beyond what are collected by property taxes through a 'new tax.” As citizens, we need to challenge our city manager and elected officials and 'start a conversation” to spend within our means rather than increase taxes.

The question is why the Cedar Rapids Library operating budget of $6.2 million is out of alignment with the rest of Iowa.

Waterloo's public library 2014 total budget expended was $2.5 million and had 271,603 visitors. Davenport's public library operating expenditures for 2014 was $5.1 million and 481,592 visitors. Des Moines 2013-14 fiscal year spending for 'six” library locations was $8.1 million; however, they are serving a larger population than Cedar Rapids.

Using an Iowa Public Library Statistics FY11 (fiscal year 2011) produced by Iowa Library Services, the Cedar Rapids Library is considered a size H library (50,000+) citizens. These libraries have a staffing of 45.96 FTE (full-time equivalent) and spend $2.7 million on salaries and benefits (or 68 percent of total operating cost). Based on this survey, Cedar Rapids Library operating cost should be $3.5 million annually. Cedar Rapids does have a world class library, which is one of our downtown center pieces and should remain funded by Cedar Rapids citizens. However, tough decisions must be made by our city manager and elected officials to operate the library within the constraints of the tax money already provided without asking for a special tax.

Kevin Schneider

Cedar Rapids