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2 <br />February 18, 2010 <br />Ms. Valerie P. Foushee, Chair <br />Ms. Bernadette Pelissier, Vice-Chair <br />Ms. Alice M. Gordon, Commissioner <br />Ms. Pam Hemminger, Commissioner <br />Mr. Barry Jacobs, Commissioner <br />Mr. Mike Nelson, Commissioner <br />Mr. Steve Yuhasz, Commissioner <br />Re: County Funding Allocations to the Town of Chapel Hill for Library Services <br />Dear Commissioners: <br />First, I must apologize for failing to respond prior to this submittal with regards to the <br />request of the Town of Chapel Hill for increased County financial support for its library. <br />After the Assembly of Governments (AOG) meeting on this topic I was to report back to <br />you within sixty (60) days with a recommendation. My notes failed to catch the timing <br />of the response, my error. <br />My response related to the issue during the AOG did define thoughts I had on how to <br />address the request. I now elaborate and offer additional input. In the summation a <br />formal recommended approach is offered with variances in application. <br />Factors impacting upon any final decision: <br />1. The Town of Chapel Hill has a great library. Libraries are an optional municipal <br />service. Taxpayers of Chapel Hill view library services as a core function and <br />support it accordingly. <br />2. Economic conditions and budget priorities the County faces do not make this the <br />best time to consider an on-going commitment of the scope and magnitude <br />proposed by the Town of Chapel Hill. <br />3. Decisions made regarding the Chapel Hill library as to size of expansion and <br />other details were made outside of discussions between the Town and County. <br />4. The County had no official input into whether expansion at the current location or <br />development of a branch library at elsewhere within town limits offered efficient <br />and economical public service opportunities that facilitate a County capital <br />funding commitment. <br />5. What impacts does the Chapel Hill library expansion project have on the concept <br />of expanding library services and access to residents of Orange County going <br />forward? <br />6. Does a County commitment to assist in funding capital costs of the Town's <br />project and to provide an expanded commitment for operational costs of impact <br />County library services elsewhere? <br />