Posted on Fri, May 10, 2013 : 4:10 p.m.
Ann Arbor District Library Board leaves millage rate unchanged
By AnnArbor.com Staff
- Previous article: Ann Arbor District Library to consider tax increase
The Ann Arbor District Library Board has approved a budget for next year without a proposed tax increase, the Ann Arbor Chronicle reported.
The Ann Arbor District Library in downtown Ann Arbor.
The board approved the budget for next year in a unanimous vote, the Chronicle reported.
Comments
Thoughtful
Sun, May 12, 2013 : 2:50 a.m.
I'm curious what the merit raises are for? Certainly not for answering the phone. I call with a question, get a reference librarian whose sketchy English is hard to understand, then get transferred to a branch, where the phone just rings and rings.... Never to be answered. Glad they're well paid to be on a coffee break.
cindy1
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
The AADL staff was able to find ways to allow for raises without a tax increase. Are there other opportunities for savings that do not affect services? From the AADL website: Ann Arbor District Library Values Excellence in customer service Providing, supporting, and advocating access for all Acting with initiative, creativity, and flexibility Working together, with enthusiasm and optimism, to reach goals Responsible stewardship of resources Are there other opportunities to better align funding with the library's values without increasing the budget? Are there opportunities to expand services to underserved populations? Are there opportunities for cost savings by collaborating with other entities, including CTN, A2 City and AAPS?
Barzoom
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
If the library board can afford to hire these kind of consultants, maybe their funding should be reduced in the next elections. The voters did not reject the millage for building the new library because they didn't understand the proposition. The voters thought that a new library was not necessary and a waste of taxpayer money.
SonnyDog09
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 5:02 p.m.
All employees (except for the Executive Director) will receive 3% merit raises, because all the employees are above average. If they had a pool and some employees got a 1% increase, some got 2% and so on, based on their performance, this would make sense. If you give everyone the same percentage increase, it is has nothing to do with "merit."
Susan Montgomery
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 3:23 p.m.
Wow, I see what you mean about Allerton-Hill, yikes! From a case study in their own website: http://allerton-hill.com/services/case-studies/ "They recognized that they needed to deal with the neighborhood opposition and mollify it at least enough for the local officials to be willing to support the development in the face of that opposition." So they are hiring a consulting firm whose expertise is to "mollify" officials and "deal with" neighborhood opposition? How very disappointing...
Susan Montgomery
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 3:32 p.m.
sorry, sorry, I should have written "mollify" and "deal with" the neighborhood opposition... Point remains the same. How about actually listening to the opposition and ending up with a better proposal? I seem to recall in the last election, when they lost the vote, their response was that they had not explained their proposal well enough. Many of us who have never before voted against a library millage voted against it not because we didn't understand it, but because we disagreed with it.
RUKiddingMe
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
Not raising the millage is great. Hiring that PR rep is bad. Hiring one with a history of "preying on small towns" is worse.
lou glorie
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 12:44 p.m.
Aren't the Library Board's votes always unanimous? I'ts coreographer is very gifted. I wonder where and where they rehearse.
Veracity
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 4:09 a.m.
Surprisingly, all full time staff will receive a 3% merit increase in salary. Justification for the increased pay is not provided. Meanwhile, most Americans have experienced flat income for the last ten years. Josie Parker, executive director, deserves respect for not accepting a pay increase. On the other hand, she is largely responsible for an undisclosed amount of library funds wasted on the failed bond referendum. Furthermore, she is about to spend $28,000 to hire Allerton-Hill Consulting for "communications consultation," perhaps in preparation for another bond referendum.
Goober
Sat, May 11, 2013 : 10:45 a.m.
Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about this other than to complain. They give themselves increases because they can. Remember - it is not their money. They are not accountable. The same holds true when we disagree with city council, our city leaders and the AA BOE. We complain, but not much ever changes. Go figure!
An Arborigine
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 9:45 p.m.
Best to avoid another defeat at the polls
Linda Peck
Fri, May 10, 2013 : 9:14 p.m.
This is good because the taxpayers are already overburdened with the taxes here.