Pike library board seeks referendum

Tax increase discussed

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA - The Pike County Public Library is in the news.

This time, it’s not about the allegedly high cost of the new library construction in Milford. It’s not about how many criticize the modern design of the new building. It’s not even about whether the main branch of the library should be located in Milford.

This time, it’s about operating costs, cuts in staff and cuts in the hours when the libraries would be open.

“We are cutting staff and hours already,” said Ellen Schaffner, library director. “Cuts in staff hours at Milford have been made and cuts in staff at the Lackawaxen branch have been necessary. If we don’t get more funding, we will have to make even more drastic cutting of staff and hours.”

Schaffner made her remarks at the meeting of the Pike County Commissioners on May 13.

“To add to the problem, the poor economy is resulting in more and more people coming to the library to use our facilities,” Schaffner said.

Schaffner said that there was a Republican senate bill being considered that would result in cutting funding for libraries by 50 percent.

“If that happens, it would be devastating,” she said.

The meeting between the commissioners and the library board over the possibility of a referendum on the November ballot was not official. A more official proceeding to request the referendum would have to be made in writing. An increase of one mill in property taxes would give the library about $1 million.

“This was just an informational meeting,” said commissioner Harry Forbes. ‘We need to have more information from them on their projected budget, their expenditures and their projected revenues, how they would use the money and how it would benefit the entire population of the county.”

If the commissioners deny the request for a referendum, the board could still put it on the ballot by exercising the option of collecting a sufficient number of voter signatures. The number of required signatures would depend on the number of residents who voted in the last election.

The new funding, if voters approve, would be used not only for the construction of the new building but also for operating costs of the existing branches. The public library consists of the main branch in Milford and two other branches in Dingman and Lackawaxen townships.

The plan envisioned by the library board is to eventually create at least two new branches. If new funding sources are not forthcoming, that plan will have to be put on hold indefinitely.