Look At The Whole PIcture

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Check Out Provincial Government Statement on Econo...":

Snip that library budget, Ev!

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Every year there's anxiety about the library budget. I can't see why. It's the simplest, least complicated of all budgets.

Seventy-eight per cent is staff. They are out there in full view of the patrons, always busy, always at their service.

Library service is essentially books, technology, staff and a building. The service is governed by the Library Board Act. Three councillors serve on the board and council appoints the rest.

The town grows, revenues increase, use of service increases. I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing the library abuzz with people. Especially children and students.

It's a beautiful facility full of cheerful ambience.

During hard times,library staff see a marked increase in demand for service.

Same as the police. In hard times.crime increases. Especially domestic occurrences. Hardship, and inability to provide, puts great stress on families.Dependence on food banks, inadequate housing cannot be anything but destructive to relationships. Children suffer most.

Every year of the last term, there was pressure on the library to decrease the budget.

At the same time, on Wednesday June 10th, 2009,  a town media release marked signing of the agreement with the new Culture Centre Board  to hand over a multi-million dollar facility for a dollar a year to a board which self-appointsand accounts to no-one for spending tax dollars. with annual increments of 3% with no questions asked.

The only requirement to receive the quarterly installment is to submit a quarterly financial statement to the town treasurer. He has no option but to release the next installment without obligation to report anything at all to his masters.

Town staff have provided guidance and support to the Culture Centre Board. Members have expressed their appreciation.

The full page ad in The Auroran recently was a salvo from this board in a political campaign to maintain the status quo. Their previous letter-writing campaign fizzled out with about four letters.

I'm not sure what the blue sign on Highway 400 , is about but it also costs money. How much I have no idea. Certainly it contributes nothing to "Aurora Culture".

Every year, notwithstanding the fact we have no museum, we have provided a grant of $50,000. to the Historical Society. Until last year, they had a membership of fifty-nine. One,I don't know who, persists in reminding us we do not own the museum collection.

There was no museum. We didn't own the collection. Why were we handing over  $50,000 of taxpayers' money to an organisation with fifty-nine members who voluntarily withdrew from their commitment to operate a museum at a critical time and  at the same time surrendered protection for their own substantial investment in the facility. 

$50,000. is Aurora' s share of annual tax revenue from six; average homes.

At one time, at the same time they were withdrawing commitment to operate the museum ,the president suggested we should provide the Society with a budget like the Library.Lord only knos where that idea came from. But it was apparently well received.

The same individual was a member of the Culture Centre Board when we signed that sweet deal.

We pay Aurora Legion's share of regional; and education taxes,while forfeiting any contribution to our expenditures. They have two buildings on their property receiving all municipal services including fire protection and policing and they pay zilch. We pay their taxes for them.That's a regional decision.

We hand over $100,000 to the Aboretum group to spend as they will. If the parks department asked for $100,000 extra in their budget, imagine the hullabullo that would raise.

Councils  have happily handed over your  money in every direction, while nickeling and diming library service to look like they are protecting your interest.

I could extend the list of elite groups receiving free use of town facilities and services. They know who they are. There's no shortage. All of them prepared, at the drop of a hat, to engage politically if their special interest is threatened.

Right now, I'm defending the library.

On the side of the angels for a change.