Last week we linked to a post from Milton View that provided a financial snapshot of Milton relative to other towns. This week, Milton View, published by Warrant Committee member Phil Matthews, supplements that post with one that illustrates where Milton sits relative to other communities with regard to library expenditures. Matthews is composing the data to provide context in advance of a possible operational over ride request next year. You can find the library expenditure info here.
Once again kudos to Mr.Matthews for his work on comparing Milton to other peer communities.
It is helpful, informative and thought provoking.
But here is the issue, as long as we are at or near the bottom in non residential tax base, MGRF and free cash and at or near the top in fixed costs we have a financial disconnect that will continually stress our fragile municipal budget. The solutions will not be pretty or to some , popular but they must be discussed, debated and, if sound, implemented.
Thanks again , Phil.
Philip, thanks for bringing these data forward. The data on Milton’s Library per capital expenditures are an annual topic of concern by the Milton Library Trustees. In recent years, we have been pursuing a strategy of convincing Miltonian leadership (Selectmen, Warrant Committee, and Town Meeting Members) that it is our town’s responsibility to provide at least the minimum amount of funding for acquiring library materials annually that will ensure that we meet minimum state requirements to insure continued state certification and state funding. This strategy has largely been successful, but it just argues for minimum funding from our citizens. This, however, is extremely important! We do not want to lose our state certification – that will have profound effects on our community. We will lose our access to the vast network of resources provided by the Old Colony Network, from which we both benefit and support. Significant funds provided annually by the Milton Library Foundation and the Friends of the Milton Public Library are then available to provide enhanced programming activities at the Library. It is not the purpose of the Milton Library Foundation or the Friends of the Library to provide money for the Library’s operating expenses. Their funds are to enhance the budget.
The Milton Public Library is in the middle of creating its next 5-year plan though a strategic planning process being coordinated by our Library Director, Will Adamczyk. It would be interesting to share these data you have and get the reaction of the people in the focus groups being asked about our library