Kirk Ross
Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL — Town leaders will take a hard look at library funding and the consequences of a proposed expansion of the Chapel Hill Public Library at the Town Council’s retreat this weekend.
After looking at the impact of the project during its regular meeting Monday night at Town Hall, council members said that while they support the project, the long-term costs and their effect on the town budget warrant more conversation.
Council member Gene Pease said he supports the expansion project, which would be financed through bonds approved by voters in 2003. But Pease said he is concerned that Chapel Hill taxpayers would likely shoulder the bulk of the cost of staffing, operating and maintaining the addition.
In a presentation to the council, Town Manager Roger Stancil and Finance Director Ken Pennoyer outlined a plan for moving forward on the $16.3 million expansion, which would double the size of the building.
Stancil said favorable financing conditions and the town’s Triple A bond rating would allow for the construction of the building to be completed without raising taxes.
But after the building opens, staff and operating costs would add an estimated $774,799 annually to the town budget. If paid for with a tax increase, that would add 1.13 cents to the town’s tax rate.
Stancil said phasing in the use of the new building and working with library management to find other savings could reduce some of the impact.
Library costs have been the subject of a long-simmering dispute between town and county officials. At Monday’s meeting, council member Penny Rich said the county’s share of the cost has not kept up while the library’s budget has increased. The county contributes $250,000 annually to help cover library operating expenses, an amount that has not changed since 1995.
Library officials estimate that patrons from outside Chapel Hill account for about 40 percent of the library’s circulation.
Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said that given the county’s budget woes, he does not expect to see a major increase from the commissioners this year, but would like to see a commitment to increase the county’s share in years ahead.
During last year’s budget discussions, the council looked at charging a fee to use the library, which is free for all residents of Orange County.
The council also received a status report on the 140 West Project. According to the report, Ram Properties reports 33 new condominium contracts and expects to have a proposed budget ready for town review in April.
Council member Jim Ward said he would like to see Ram and town officials begin work on construction plans, including hours, traffic patterns and communications with nearby residents and businesses. Ward said one of the lessons learned during the building of Greenbridge was to start communicating early on with neighbors about construction plans.
In other action the council: received a petition from Orange County Justice United asking for a revision to the town’s living-wage policy that would allow for automatically indexed cost-of-living increases and a rise in the town’s wage floor from $11.06 to $15.31 and; accepted the donation of an 8.36-acre parcel of land north of Bolin Creek, east of the Mount Bolus neighborhood and west of the Hidden Hills neighborhood. The property fronts onto Cedar Street and Burlage Circle. It is contiguous with town-owned open space lands along Bolin Creek.