Community members urge Beltrami County Board to reconsider proposal to cut library budgets

Aug. 17—BEMIDJI — Crowded into the small space of Northern Town Hall, around 50 community members attended the

Beltrami County Board's

Tuesday meeting to make sure that their voices were heard.

Mobilized after word got out that the county's budget committee was considering a

35% cut to the budgets of the Bemidji and Blackduck public libraries,

residents from across Beltrami County attended the Aug. 16 meeting to make public comments and urge the commissioners to reconsider.

"The Bemidji Public Library is by far the busiest library in northern Minnesota," said Ara Gallo, the assistant branch manager at Bemidji's Library who attended the meeting to comment. "When we got word of the potential budget cuts in an email from County Administrator Tom Barry we were shocked."

Part of the

Kitchigami Regional Library System,

the Bemidji and Blackduck Public Libraries requested a 3% increase in funding from 2022 to 2023, with a total request of $420,889. The budget committee's proposal, however, decreases the libraries' funding by 35% to the state minimum, equating to $265,162.

"We had only asked for a 3% increase from 2022, well below the pace of inflation," Gallo said, adding that KRLS was already committing $42,000 to help reduce the county's costs.

If the proposed budget is accepted with the 35% decrease, the Bemidji Public Library would likely have to reduce the number of days it's open, reduce services and potentially lay off staff.

"This kind of cut will have a huge impact on the services," said Deb Rossman, vice chair of the Bemidji Public Library Board. "Hours would have to be cut, staff would have to be cut."

Other members of the public shared what the library has meant to them, recounting how its services helped them apply to jobs and colleges or got them through difficult times. One parent even shared a drawing by their 8-year-old daughter that showed what society would be like without libraries.

"The public library system is integral to a healthy community," said community member Amanda Reed. "The elderly, the disabled, the poor, the homeless, all depend on programs provided by public libraries ... where our county human services fell short the Bemidji library picked up."

As for why the county is considering cutting the library budget, part of the decision came after hearing that KRLS has a large reserve.

"We do have money in a reserve fund, just like any responsible fiscal organization," Gallo said, explaining that the reserves were not easily accessible to cover budget shortfalls since the funds have already been designated for different purposes.

If the county were to decrease the budget and assume that KRLS would cover the difference, Gallo shared his fears that other counties would follow suit and leave the library system in dire straits.

"If Beltrami County stops funding the library and goes back to the minimum that's required by the state, what is to stop Cass, Hubbard and Wadena Counties as well from cutting their commitments?" Gallo asked.

Another motivation for the proposed cuts is to keep the county's levy as low as possible, something many of the people who attended the meeting could sympathize with, even if they disagreed with the method.

"The money that you propose to not give our library is the money that's used for staffing and to keep the doors open," said Lois Eckelhoff in her public comment. "I understand wanting to save money, but I also understand that keeping the library open for all of us should be a priority."

For some, the cost-to-benefit ratio of cutting the library budget was skewed in the wrong direction, since the amount saved in the proposal was equivalent to 0.5% of the county's total budget.

"Constituents don't want to lose the efficacy of our libraries for the sake of saving 0.5% of the county budget," Reed said.

Others echoed this while questioning whether such a slight decrease would really result in a lower levy.

"At a 0.5% decrease will my tax bill go down by $20?" Gallo asked. "Because in the 20-plus years I've owned property in the state of Minnesota, in the county of Beltrami, my tax bill has never gone down."

After nearly 40 minutes of comments, those advocating for the libraries concluded and District 4 County Commissioner Tim Sumner broke from usual practice and gave a brief response.

"I know that this issue is really near and dear to a lot of folks," Sumner said. "Cutting budgets is never easy. We try to be fiscally prudent and responsible with your money."

Sumner went on to emphasize that the proposed cuts haven't been finalized and that there is still time for adjustments to be made if the board chooses before the preliminary budget is approved on Sept. 20.

Alongside this reassurance, Sumner also thanked those who commented for attending the meeting and sharing their perspectives and knowledge.

"We do appreciate you coming out," Sumner said. "I strongly believe communication is key. I personally learned a lot more from the emails, phone calls and tonight's meeting about what's going on at the library."