Hog Heaven!

We found last week's library discussion amazing. Despite the fact that our post was for the purpose of discussing the machinations being employed to attempt to expand the current library or build a new library altogether -- something that is expressly planned for in the Park Ridge Library's Action Plans for 2007 - 2009 -- there were those who, in the myopic fashion of the self-absorbed few, think everything they choose to do merits public support. We had one commenter insist on declaring demands for subsidies to be a right -- that genius, who can resubmit that stupid comment here today, tried to cover his or her shameless tracks by characterizing such demands as "freedom of speech." We're not sure, but we don't think shameless whining for government subsidies is exactly what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they included that bit in the First Amendment; though we have to admit such idiocy does qualify in the broadest sense. There's no law against being stupid, nor against the frivolous exercise of one's Constitutional rights.

We can understand those who hold "The Audacity of Hope" -- but we think having the audacity to ask other community members to further fund the expansion of subsidized programs and shoulder the extra costs for personal entertainment choices is beyond shameless, especially given the current economic climate and outlook, and especially in a particularly privileged and well-to-do community like Park Ridge. We would go so far as to say those who claim to have an understanding of community, and then proclaim their right to ask for more based on that erroneous understanding, do not in fact understand anything about community -- certainly not their own responsibility to their fellow community members.

But instead of talking about the philosophical aspects of community, community subsidies, the shameless grabbing for more benefits than one may contribute to, irrespective of any measure for legitimate need, let's take a look at some real numbers.

On the Park Ridge Library web site, you can find the following --

PR Library Annual Revenue Page

The dollar bill illustration shows that of the $.13 total cents collected by the city from each property tax dollar, "only" $.04 goes to the library.

What you won't find is the bottom half of that dollar illustration page, which was copied from the city budget. We've included the full page (pg. 4 of the summary) from the city budget below for your review.

City Budget Summary



We're also wondering why the full library budget, or at least an annual expense page, isn't included on the library web site -- maybe we missed it?

We figure it is likely the Park Ridge Library authorities chose not to include the bottom half of the city budget dollar illustration page because they didn't want to have to explain it.

But we'll go ahead and try to do so, as simply as possible.

The fact is, of the total $.13 collected by the city, $.04 is dedicated exclusively to funding the library. But as you can see the second dollar illustration shows that of the total funds collected per dollar by the city, 28% -- more than a quarter or almost one third (it used to be a full one third) -- goes to the library alone.

We're also pretty sure the Park Ridge Library authorities do not want to have to explain why the 7 programs operated by the library require 28% of the distribution of funding, while the 44 programs operated out of the city's general fund "only" require 29% of the city's distribution of the revenue collected.

Even more simply -- the city funds 44 programs by collecting $.09 cents from every property tax dollar, while the library funds only 7 programs by collecting $.04 cents (almost half of what the city collects) from every property tax dollar.

How can this be? We think it may have something to do with the Park Ridge Library payroll. There are roughly a total of 100 people -- including full time and part time -- on the library payroll, 65+/- who qualify for benefits.

Compare that to the Public Works Administration and Public Works Service Center employees combined -- there are roughly 73 full and part time employees, all receiving benefits, who are responsible for all the physical and mechanical needs of the entire 7 square miles of the City of Park Ridge vs. the library staff which is responsible for the 36,000 square foot library building and the collection inside it.

O.K., some may say that the library has to deal with boatloads of visitors every day. Well that may explain why, of the $4,792,700 Library Operating Budget, they spend $3,573,000, or 75% of their total operating budget, on personal services, which is municipal speak for "salaries, wages, and benefits for employees."

The point of all of the above is to get the people asking for more to realize that the library already eats up a ton of public revenue for what they provide to patrons. We are not suggesting, nor have we read any blog comments suggesting, that any library staff should be laid off. But we strongly feel that the library programs, building and staff should not be expanded.

While there are those who will continue to profess the intangible benefits of expanding library programs to serve what is, by the library's own reported statistics, a lower number of visitors than in years past, as well as a higher circulation despite a decreasing collection, there are other city-wide budget problems to be considered.

For those who want to expand either the library programming or the library building, itself, we want to know how you intend to pay for those things. We would like to know if you would choose to cut other public services in exchange for expansion of services you want at the library, or if you would seek to raise property taxes collected by the city? And, by how much? Or, do you feel the city should simply borrow money to pay for the things you want? And, do you realize that incurring debt comes with, dare we say it, intangible as well as measurable costs?

Remember people, last year the city had a deficit of $1.7 million, and is already looking at another deficit this year of approximately $1.6 million.

The PRU Crew has never been quick to defend the city council, and we think they were asleep at the wheel during the last city budget process. But we'll be damned if we're willing to put them on the hook for all this mess and let the whiny grabbers walk away as if they aren't responsible in some fashion.

So! Here's a link to the city budget page on the city web site. If you want a hard copy of the city budget, you can request one from City Hall. Take a look. Get out your pencil. Start slicing, dicing, and rearranging -- or adding in the costs of desired programs and the requisite tax increases to pay for them. Since there are those who seem to feel the sky's the limit, we can keep in mind we are a home rule unit of local government -- our city officials can tax us as high as they want to for anything and everything that anybody asks for. Go ahead. Tell your representatives what you think they should do. After all, as our genius commenter said, it's your right to ask them for what you want.

Or, tell your city council that you prefer to cut road paving and salting because it's not that you fail to recognize that, beyond anybody's "subsidized two-car driving habit", police, fire and ambulance services also use those very same roads, but rather you would prefer to spend money having librarians pay authors to read to toddlers.

Or better yet, tell your neighbors to quit complaining about flooding every year. Relief sewers? Feh! Go ahead. Tell your neighbors and your city council that flooding is something we all have to accept because there is no difference between the value of relief sewers and stocking the library with current bestsellers.

For the PRU Crew's part, we think people who claim the right to ask their government for anything and everything they want, should also take responsibility for telling their elected officials how they want them to provide the things they want. Think of it as being fully a part of your community.