Ahead of library district vote, Boulder considers possible uses for potential savings

Sep. 25—Boulder is in the early stages of considering how it might spend the money that could be saved should voters agree to relinquish municipal control of the Boulder Public Library in favor of a property tax-funded district.

If the district is approved in the November election, the city expects to save anywhere from $9.75 million to $10.75 million once the library is fully transferred in 2024.

This is the amount available for reallocation, but does not incorporate all of the costs to operate the system such as maintenance staff time.

"There will be areas in terms of staff time where we will not be saving money because we're not going to lay off staff that have helped out the library," Mayor Aaron Brockett said. "But those staff will have additional capacity to work on other city projects."

Fernando Anzures puts away books at the George Reynolds Library in Boulder in February. (Cliff Grassmick ??

There are a number of possible ways in which Boulder could spend the money. The city has divided some of its potential uses into categories ranging from investments that meet some of Boulder's core operational needs to new investments that meet established policies or emerging community needs.

Current proposals include everything from construction and staffing a permanent day services center for people experiencing homelessness to implementation of the new advanced life support level of emergency services or parks maintenance.

Still, considering the amount of underfunded and unfunded projects in Boulder well exceeds $30 million, the City Council ultimately will need to make decisions.

"That really does necessitate some type of prioritization with Council to determine how you may use this money and also structure our future budgets," Senior Budget Manager Mark Woulf said.

While some City Council members shared their preferences for the ways in which the money could be spent, there also was debate about the general timing of the conversation, given that it occurred before the upcoming vote to determine whether a district should be formed.

Abby Haugness, left, and her 5-year-old daughter, Mia Haughness, get a lesson on Go from Paul Barchilon, right, in 2021 at the Boulder Public Library. The Go Club was back in person at the library for the first time since the pandemic started. (Amy Bounds ??

Councilmember Mark Wallach, a critic of the library district, argued it was a premature conversation without substance, echoing points made in an earlier Hotline email drafted by his colleague Councilmember Bob Yates.

"What Council is doing tonight is basically producing an infomercial in support of the district and all of the benefits that can arise from the district," Wallach said. "Frankly, I think doing so is a little beneath us and the role we ought to play as a governing body."

However, Councilmember Matt Benjamin, a library district supporter, said it's important for people to understand the implications of their vote. If the money is no longer going toward the library, it will be used for other purposes.

"We will be making the 2024 budget. It is this body that will do that," he said. "This is good planning for decisions we as a body ultimately will make.

"This is largely a product of having to dispel copious misconceptions that have been spread about this issue, and it's important for us to do that," Benjamin later added.

Mill levy

The proposed tax to fund a library district is 3.5 mills, which equals $23 per $100,000 of a home's actual value. For a home assessed at $500,000, that means a tax of $9.62 a month or $115 a year.

The Boulder Public Library District, if approved, would extend beyond Boulder's city limits and into unincorporated parts of the county. All residents within district boundaries would pay into a new district.

City residents, however, currently pay a dedicated 0.333-mill that supports the municipal library system.

Should voters OK a district in November, the majority of the Boulder City Council clarified on Thursday that it would like to repeal that mill levy, ultimately returning the money to Boulder residents.

The city said it anticipates bringing in about $1.5 million in 2024 from the dedicated library tax. That amount has already been removed from the $9.75 million to $10.75 million in anticipated annual savings presented by budget staff on Thursday.

If the library district ballot measure is successful, as well as a separate municipal measure that would repeal the mill levy and the Boulder Library Commission, the City Council will then be asked to approve an emergency ordinance amending the citywide mill levy.

That's because the budget is scheduled for approval ahead of the November election.

"We always present the mill levy ordinance and the budget without anticipating a certain result of the November election," Chief Financial Officer Kara Skinner said.