ROCKLAND — Rockland City Council held a reconvened session of Wednesday, May 27, informal budgetary meeting with Library Director Amy Levine.

During the council meeting two weeks ago, Mayor Isganitis offered a FY 2016 library budget solution involving the reduction of the library budget ($564,232 for FY 16) by $100,000. If the library could find private funding of $50,000, the City would match that $50,000. The library would then have to reduce their budget by $44,000. The donations by the Friends and R-PLEA have provided the bulk of that initial $50,000.

The library’s proposed $44,000 reduction includes not being open on Sundays ($2100 for heat and power); elimination of funds in education and travel ($1050); miscellaneous funds and supply ($1000); further reduction in part time; a small reduction in building and maintenance ($1000); eliminating funds for dues membership ($200); printing and advertising ($275); and significant reduction from the materials budget line includes a $14,031 and books, magazines and newspapers reduced by $24,344.

In terms of revenue enhancements, Levine proposed in increase in rental fees by 50 percent. The library will start charging for genealogical and historical research and scanning services.

Library staff also plan to approach neighboring towns whose residents receive free library cards and ask for a flat municipal fee.

Councilors thanked Levine and her staff for the budget sacrifices, as well as the service they provide for the community.

In the meeting, councilors learned of a bank account set up by the library for monetary donations dispensed by Rockland Public Library Endowment Association. As Levine described the $17,000 donation by the Friends of Rockland Library, and the $20,000 commitment by R-PLEA, the existence of a checking account and separate record keeping system for R-PLEA financial donations came to light.

Levine attested that all of those records are officially documented by the library, R-PLEA, the Maine State Library, and tax forms. “It predated me,” Levine said. “It was set up. I just followed along, and just made sure I kept absolutely perfect records so that there would never be any question.” Levine has been with the library since 2009.

“That’s troubling to me,” said Mayor Frank Isganitis. “Above and beyond the budget, now there’s some increment of dollars that we don’t know about, that Amy’s spending every year that aren’t accounted for anywhere.”

Councilor Larry Pritchett looked up the 9-90 tax form for FY 14, which started in June 2013, and told council: “For R-PLEA, they’re showing $1224 donations to the City, which came in as cash and was receipted out to a particular donation. If you go to R-PLEA’s 9-90 form for the same period, there’s 9,000 some-odd dollars on it, which were listed as computers, maintenance to the children’s garden...and books.”

Councilor Will Clayton pointed out that budgetary needs listed by line-item don’t “reflect the thousands of dollars in addition to what’s here.”

According to Rockland Finance Director Tom Luttrell: “Back in FY 14 is when we really started this whole process of talking with Amy and noticing that we’re getting a lot of money from the Friends and the PLEA, accepting the money and expending it. so it is being recorded on our books.” 

R-PLEA keeps the same records, according to Levine. She told the council that when she recently reviewed her balance with that of R-PLEA, both balances matched.

Councilors agreed that they will change the process for documenting future donations.

See our previous articles

Passionate crowd gives testimonial to value of Rockland library, recreation center

Rockland City Council begins budget talks with department heads about requests

Rockland Council continues to mull budget ideas

Rockland’s city manager introduces $21.6 million budget 

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com.