Commissioner McCasky moved that the following Resolution be adopted:
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF THE COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. CC11-026
RE: Board of County Commissioners – Election not to participate in Library District
WHEREAS, petitions have been submitted to the Board of County Commissioners requesting the formation of Jeffco Library District based on assumptions that the district will have the same boundaries as the existing Jefferson County Public Library, will obtain all the assets of the Jefferson County Public Library, and will have a mill levy of 3.5 mills in 2010 payable in 2011, thereafter to be set by a board of trustees of the proposed library district, and
WHEREAS, the assumptions provided in the petition are incorrect, and
WHEREAS, the elected Board of County Commissioners of Jefferson County has the statutory authority and responsibility to balance all the competing interests for County services in these challenging economic times in the most fiscally responsible way, and,
WHEREAS, as required by statute, the Board of County Commissioners already certified the mill levy for library services for 2010 payable in 2011 at 3.225, which cannot be changed by petition, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners is proud to provide library services to its residents through the Jefferson County Public Library, a premier library system that provides high-quality and cost-effective library services to a service area that includes all of Jefferson County, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners remains committed to its efforts to work with the Board of Trustees of the Jefferson County Public Library to continue to provide library services that are responsive to the needs and desires of County residents, and
WHEREAS, the cost of an election regarding formation of a district would depend on the number of issues on the ballot but the election itself would cost between $400,000 and $600,000, and the library district’s share would likely be around $165,000, and
WHEREAS, increasing the mill levy from the existing 3.225 to 3.5 mills specifically for library services without raising taxes would cause an annual reduction in other County services of approximately $2 million along with the absorption of $500,000 in shared expenses now paid for by the library for a net negative fiscal impact of $2.5 million to other County services, and
WHEREAS, even if the County participated in the library district, if the City of Westminster, which operates its own libraries, declined to participate, the library district would lose approximately $2 million in revenue annually, thereby offsetting the increase in revenue generated by the increased mill levy, and
WHEREAS, efforts in the past to increase taxes for library services have not been successful, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners feels that to incur expenses and increase the cost of government in these economic times to create a district to perform the same services that the Jefferson County Public Library currently performs at a higher total cost to the taxpayers would be fiscally irresponsible, and
WHEREAS, pursuant to §24-90-106(1), C.R.S., the Board of County Commissioners, as a governmental unit that currently provides library services, can by resolution decide whether or not to participate in a library district.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners finds that creation of a library district at this time would be fiscally irresponsible and hereby elects not to participate in the Jeffco Library District.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in light of the Board’s findings that the formation of a library district would have negative fiscal impacts on all County services and its decision not to participate in any library district, the Board of County Commissioners declines to waive the bond required pursuant to §24-90-107(3)(c)(II)(A), C.R.S. and declines to pay the cost of an election pursuant to §24-90-107(3)(c)(II)(B), C.R.S.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that regardless of whether the Jeffco Library District is formed, the Board of County Commissioners intends to continue to operate the Jefferson County Public Library, retaining all of its assets and mill levy, and consigning the Jeffco Library District to whatever funds it is able to obtain as a district by law or vote of the electorate.
Commissioner Rosier seconded the adoption of the foregoing Resolution. The roll having been called, the vote was as follows:
Commissioner J. Kevin McCasky Aye
Commissioner Donald Rosier Aye
Commissioner Faye Griffin, Chairman Aye
The Resolution was adopted by unanimous vote of the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Jefferson, State of Colorado.
Dated: January 25, 2011
