Minutes-04-18-2023-Business Meeting

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56 Susan Brown said that as the task force makes the presentation, if the electeds and staff want to make changes, then that will be the time to do so. Commissioner Fowler said that people in Chapel Hill pay taxes twice to cover library services. She said the desire is for some of that to go back to cover the library that most of them use. She said that other towns do not really have the same scenario where the citizens are taxed. She said the Carrboro branch will not be the same either. Commissioner Greene asked if the $169 over 6 years includes anticipated costs for a Southern branch. Susan Brown said yes. Commissioner Fowler said she thought so. Susan Brown said the task force discussed this and whether they should include future branches. She said that the task force's recommendation was for them to include that, but the Board could look at it differently. Commissioner Greene said she wanted to know this information tonight if possible. Bonnie Hammersley said in a memo dated October 24, 2012, a condition of the agreement is interoperability and there was a section that was a condition of the MOU. She said Vice-Chair McKee's recollection was correct. Vice-Chair McKee said that the portion was never accomplished and completely rejected. Travis Myren said that in the cost analysis, a half year's cost was included for the Southern branch. Commissioner Hamilton said she has a concern about any funding formula that has the county increasing funding automatically. She said it is important to know how the Southern branch would be used. She said she supports current levels of funding. Vice-Chair McKee asked what the total operating cost is for the Chapel Hill Public Library. Commissioner Fowler said about $3.2 million. Vice-Chair McKee said he has no concerns about the current level of funding but the projected $169,358 for five years brings it to a total of$1.3 million in total county funding. Commissioner Fowler said that it was over a 5 year period, so the operating expense would go up. Vice-Chair McKee said he can see that. He said his point is that they had talked about a 3% per year increase and in this one it is 20% per year. He said at the same time, services will be provided at the Southern branch and will reduce out of city users of the town library. He said there is no indication there is a savings. He asked if there is the will to make it one system. He said he doesn't see that, and therefore he cannot support this. He said it was a condition of the previous MOU and it disappeared. Commissioner Greene said she appreciates how difficult this is. She said that previous commissioner Barry Jacobs shared a tax equity study with the Board. She said he thought to send them that because she wanted to be reminded of his history on this project. She said that the tax equity study was prompted by the library conversation. She said that the gist of the study is that everything the county provides for free to municipal residents is basically a wash. She said that it becomes a wash. She said she thinks there are two things wrong with the proposal. She said first is that it ties their obligation to invest in what they are spending on libraries in the county. She said the second regards the county residents who use the library for free. She said in 2010 that was the primary focus. She said that the number had been stuck at $200,000 for years. She said it is premature since the costs and usage of the Southern branch are unknown. She said that it also would be a disincentive for the county to build future branches since it would increase the cost of supporting the Chapel Hill Public Library. Vice-Chair McKee said that he thought that during the discussion about the county giving $200,000 forever, he said it was stated that if the county failed to increase the contribution, then the out-of-town residents would be charged.