Fate of boro library to be decided Tues.

State-mandated cost increases prompted ballot question

BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

Jamesburg residents will decide next week whether they want to keep their library open.

The question of whether to continue the municipal operation is on the ballot in the Nov. 4 general election. According to state law, the Borough Council must receive voters’ approval in a referendum in order to close the municipal library. If the library is closed, Jamesburg officials say they will execute an interlocal agreement with Monroe for use of that township’s library, located at Perrineville and Schoolhouse roads.

Borough officials say the town can no longer afford the state-mandated annual increases in the cost of running the library. Meanwhile, library supporters are campaigning to keep it open, arguing it is a cultural asset to the town, one that is within walking distance and available to every resident.

Carole Hetzell, president of the library board of trustees and chairwoman of the Friends of the Jamesburg Library, said she and other supporters were knocking on doors and urging residents to vote against closing the library.

“We are being penny-wise and pound foolish,” Hetzell said of the move to shut down the library and use Monroe’s.

Borough officials said residents will not only save money, but will find more resources and services at the Monroe library. The annual cost increases to fund Jamesburg’s library, they said, make it difficult for the borough to comply with the statemandated 4 percent cap on increases in municipal spending each year. The state formula that dictates municipal library funding forced the town to pay $185,000 last year, up from $170,000 the year before, prompting officials to cut costs from other areas of the municipal budget.

While library advocates say this year’s increase will be far less, and perhaps as low as $3,000, council President Otto Kostbar said there is no way of knowing what the figurewill be just yet and questioned how it was derived. According to Councilman John Longo, if this year’s library funding increase is lower than usual, it is a result of unusual factors, and not symbolic of a typical year’s increase.

Kostbar said that by closing the library and using Monroe’s, the town will save about $30,000 per year, which amounts to about one cent on the tax rate. He said that is the “most conservative” estimate.

Library advocates feel the cost savings realized by residents would be very minimal. On its Web blog, the Friends of the Jamesburg Library indicate that savings will be $5 per resident in the first year, a number they do not feel warrants closing the library.

Those in favor of keeping the library wonder what a small town like Jamesburg would be without its own library, and if property taxes will be lower without it.

“First of all, for a small library it is very up-to-date,” said Florence Grynkiewicz, a longtime resident. “I am dependent on it because I am 85, and it gets very boring. The library has up-to-date books, and the people are very nice. I also see a slew of kids using it.”

Borough officials said they simply want to give residents the chance to decide for themselves whether they want to spend the money and risk the loss of other services.

“I want them to make the decision. We are just presenting the facts,” Longo said, noting that the borough was sending out a fact sheet regarding the possible closing. Kostbar said the mailing is to inform residents about the services they would receive with Monroe’s library.

Library supporters have been preparing to get out the vote, raising support at events like a yard sale that was held in front of the library, a pumpkin sale, and through discussions with the Board of Education and PTA. Most people, she said, are “aghast” when they hear that the library may be shut down.

“They just cannot believe that they would close a library,” Hetzell said. “People like our small library that they can walk to. Over 50 percent of those who use it walk there.”

A lot of people who use the library do not have their own computers, and rely on the library’s equipment, she said. Students use the library, as well as businessmen and senior citizens, she said.

“It’s a place for people to be. A lot of people are out of work. It is walkable and safe,” she said.

Kostbar stressed that residents will get a better service for less money if they approve the referendum. The question gives voters the chance to decide what they would rather sacrifice, as opposed to the council. In the past two years, the town has reduced its trash pickup services, put off buying a new police car, delayed capital improvements and cut the purchase of public works equipment.

Kostbar said he believes the savings from closing the library and using Monroe’s will be “significant.”

“Quite frankly, it is more cost-effective and better for taxpayers to do this. It will save them money and provide a better service,” Kostbar said.