Jefferson County Public Library will have more than $8 million more to work with in its 2016 budget after voters approved a tax increase last month, which will allow all 10 branches to expand their hours.
“That’s been our biggest complaint from people,” Jeffco Public Library executive director Pam Nissler said. “We’ll make sure that it’s noticed.”
The main branches will be open 65 hours per week rather than 51, allowing for more consistent programming and better options for after-school use for students. The exact operating hours are still being finalized and will go into effect April 4. The library will hire the equivalent of 19 full-time employees to handle the extra hours.
Voters favored the mill levy increase, .
The increase of 1 mill will add 67 cents of tax money per every $100,000 of home value per month and residents will pay an average of $8.77 monthly to the library in taxes. That estimate is based on the median home value in the county of $293,926. This is the first mill levy increase for Jefferson County Public Library since 1986. A question to raise taxes for the library failed in 2000. The library’s budget was about $25 million in 2015.
“In any year, we can go up to 4.5 mills,” library spokeswoman Rebecca Winning said. “We won’t ask for that every year.”
In fact, the library is asking for a lower number of just over 4 mills in 2016 that will allow it to expand its schedule, update some equipment and plan for more work in 2017, such as a remodel of the Columbine Library.
The . Branch manager Barbara Yeutter Roig said that she’s most excited for the technology updates and increased hours. Columbine will get two new full-time employees to help with the expanded hours.
“Our budget has been very thin for a long time, and it shows in our materials and what we have available,” she said. “I’m most excited about being open more.”
The technology updates will include catching up on outdated equipment such as computers, which recently had been replaced only when broken. Increased broadband will be added for better Internet access, as well.
The library will also take part in Libhub, which allows those doing a search on a topic to see immediately if the library has a book on the subject without having to go back to the library’s website. Libraries such as Denver and Adams County have already implemented this system.
Jeffco Public Library had to prepare two budgets for 2016 based on whether or not the tax increase passed. The library presented an outline of the budget to the Jefferson County commissioners on Nov. 17, but the commissioners asked for more specific numbers on where exactly money will spent, which Commissioner Don Rosier said were provided by the end of that week.
The county’s final budget will be voted on Dec. 8.
“They did everything that was asked,” Rosier said. “I look forward to working with (the library board of trustees) and with staff and I’m very hopeful that they can use these dollars to be where they need to be.”
The budget work meant extra time for staff, but Nissler said it’s much better planning for more money, rather than finding more ways to cut back.
“We would like to say we appreciate the trust in us, the love for libraries and we will live up to their expectations and deliver on all of our promises,” Nissler said. “It’s going to be nice for our staff to say ‘Yes’ rather than ‘I’m sorry.’ “
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or @joe_vacc
