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Politics & Government

Library Gives Back Extra Money to the Township

Frank Bastone: "I think it's an excellent thing that the library was able to give us money back."

Montville Township Public Library requested that the state librarian transfer $237,022 to the township, to be used for tax payer relief this year, according to the library interim director.

Allan Kleiman said a new law enacted in 2009 allows library boards to return to the town left-over money from their budget each year. The state librarian approved this year's amount on May 24.

"[The board] had deecided early in the year that whatever the number is at the end of the year, they would give back half to the town," Kleiman said. "They hope to do the same in 2011. This is given to the town specifically to bring down property taxes."

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The library was budgeted $1.8 million this year and used only about $1.4 million, Kleiman said. The excess amount the library keeps goes into an emergency fund for projects such as roof repair.

"I think it's really commendable on the part of the library trustees that they have been able to run this library really efficiently, and been able to provide great service, including expanded hours this year, and still have been able to have money to give back to the town," he said.

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Frank Bastone, township administrator, said the township committee anticipated the extra funds and they benefited tax payers for the 2010 taxes.

The fact that the library has run under budget the past few years won't impact the amount it receives in the following year, because state law appropriates the amount according to a specific formula, he said. However, there are some proposals to change this law in the state legislature.

"I think the law does need to change," Bastone said. "In these difficult fiscal times, it's ridiculous to get the money from tax payers for funds that are not necessary. If the library can operate with less funds, we shouldn't have to collect that amount."

However, Bastone emphasized that the library's actions given their surplus are commendable.

"I think it's an excellent thing that the library was able to give us money back," he said. "I think it's a sign of the times."

Peter King, Sr., Board of Trustees president, said the board tries to keep the budget from rising each year.

"We try to keep it as sound as possible, and by doing that we don't spend all the money," he said.

While the board was not obliged to give back this year, they might have to be legally required to do so in the future, he said. Currently proposed state legislation would allow libraries to keep only 20 percent of their total allocated budget as surplus, stipulating that the rest to be returned to the town.

In other words, for their $1.8 million budget this year, the library would be allowed to keep up to $360,000 and must give back the rest. Anything they give over that amount is voluntary.

Bastone said this legislation is likely to pass.

"In the future when libraries have surpluses, it will be returned to the tax payers as it should be," he said.

The library's payment is divided into quarters. The first two were given back at the June board meeting. A ceremony will be held on September 13 at 6:30 p.m., before the normally scheduled board meeting, to give back the third quarter, Kleiman said.

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