The Proposed Budget

Using information we obtained through public records requests, we’ll show the original proposed budget for 2025 and the 2025 budget revised by members of the Livingston Parish Library Board of Control (LBOC). The budgets are available at this link: https://bit.ly/3OV3m6e The first two pages are the original proposed budget. The remaining 5 pages show the LBOC’s proposed reductions.  

Total income for the library system is $7,375,681. Approximately 94% of this amount comes through a special tax of ten mills on all property subject to taxation approved by voters in November 2023. In 2024, all parish taxing districts were asked to reduce their millage to offset property assessment increases that have resulted in an increase of taxes paid by citizens. The library agreed to reduce its millage to 7.53 mills for 2024. You can visit the Parish Assessor’s website for more information on each taxing district’s millage rate and how millages determine property tax here: https://bit.ly/4gzY0cm 

Employee salaries and benefits account for 58% of expenditures at $3,265,170 and $1,049,593, respectively. We are glad to see the LBOC maintain these amounts in their amended budget proposal. This budget allows for a much-needed raise for all library staff. However, we have learned at least one member of the LBOC intends to cut 5 staff positions (https://bit.ly/3ZDorHt). 

The system pays slightly less than $1 million per year toward utility, maintenance, and insurance costs for the 5 branches, administrative office, and bookmobile. Construction of the branches was fully paid through a bond authorized by voters in 2003.  The board has proposed a reduction of $50,000 to the Contingency - Emergency Repairs line item (from $80,000 to $30,000). A $50,000 reduction to the Contingency - Emergency Repairs fund may reduce the flexibility and resilience of the library to handle unforeseen events or disasters. All other costs related to maintenance and upkeep of the buildings and supplies were maintained.  

The LBOC cut the Professional Development budget in half (from $51,000 to $26,124). This will impact employees’ ability to attend conferences and other professional development events.

The areas with the most significant reductions include Programming and Collections. The library proposed a budget of $152,715 for Programming. The LBOC has proposed a reduction to $94,700. Programming includes events such as Summer Reading, Book Festival, and ComicCon. In 2023, the library hosted 1,162 events attended by 48,710 patrons. In the last year, the library set three records related to Programming: 1: The highest attendance at Book Festival; 2: the highest attendance at ComicCon; 3: The highest participation in Summer Reading (https://bit.ly/41rokBi page 35). Over Summer 2024, the library surveyed patrons to solicit feedback on its services and offerings. One question asked, “Which type of events interest or matter most to you?” to which 64.2% of respondents answered “Large community events” (https://bit.ly/41rokBi page 16).

 At least one branch has already eliminated teen programming due to staff shortages; we expect additional children and teen programming will be cut under this budget. Expect to see a drastic reduction in programming and continued disregard of community preferences if the LBOC’s proposed budget is approved.

The library proposed a budget of $461,231 for Collections. Collections includes both physical items (books, board games, etc), and digital items (electronic books, audiobooks, movies, etc). The LBOC intends to reduce the Collections budget to $339,231. Library patrons set a record in 2024 for eVideo checkouts, with 10,000 videos checked out in 2024 (https://bit.ly/4gdaLKn). This reduction will completely eliminate funding for eVideo, eMusic, and eMagazines. The budget for eAudiobooks will be reduced from $160,000 to $90,000. Patrons have borrowed 82,310 audiobooks between January-November 2024, which surpasses the 2023 total of 71,240 (https://bit.ly/3OYhv2s). Another popular item, eBooks, will be reduced from $115,000 to $90,000. According to library usage statistics, eBook circulation has increased 127% between 2019-2023, with 2024 set to outpace 2023 (https://bit.ly/41rokBi page 34). Many of our senior and disabled patrons, as well as those who do not live near a branch, rely on digital content to utilize library resources (https://bit.ly/4gzidze). 

Perhaps most concerning is the LBOC’s decision to eliminate funding for literacy programs. These programs include free one-on-one tutoring for adults in basic reading, writing, and spelling, GED courses, digital literacy offerings, and the English as a Second Language program. We have a hard time believing the LBOC has the community’s best interests at heart if they are willing to cut vital programs that improve the lives of so many of our residents.

In total, the original proposed budget proposed by the library resulted in $283,231 of unspent revenue. The LBOC proposed budget increases the unspent revenue to $589,412. While a savings seems great in theory, it is the result of slashing offerings library patrons have grown to love and expect their library to offer. That money does not go back to the citizens. You will not see a refund of your taxes. That money will sit in the bank, unused.

So why cut the budget and allow excess funds to sit in the bank? Next year, they’ll say ‘Look, you didn’t need all the money we budgeted last year! We can cut the budget some more!” and so on and so on, year after year. We will lose more and more services. The long-term plan is to reduce the millage approved by voters, or eliminate it altogether. They’ll do that by “proving” the library is sitting on years’ worth of operating expenses and alleging that it no longer needs funding. You’ll see a major campaign to reject the next millage when it’s up for renewal in 2033. This has always been the long-term goal. It’s not about the books. It never has been. It has always been about eroding public trust and dismantling the library system.

What can you do about this? Speak up and speak out! Join the Livingston Parish Library Alliance at the next Library Board of Control meeting on December 17, 2024 at 6:00 pm, when the LBOC will vote to adopt a budget. The meeting will be held at the Denham Springs-Walker branch, located at 8101 US Hwy 190, Denham Springs, LA. Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide input on the budget. The LBOC allows each member of the public to speak for 3 minutes on each agenda item. We hope you’ll join us.

Know the facts. Fight the lies. Stand with the library.