Council narrowly rejects reduction of library funding increase

Prince George city council discussed but ultimately rejected a proposal to reduce the library’s requested funding increase during deliberations on Jan. 22.

As he hinted on the first day of deliberations on Monday, Jan. 20, Coun. Kyle Sampson moved to reduce the increase to the Prince George Public Library’s funding. He said the library needs to be more innovative in searching for revenue, especially after eliminating late fees several years ago.

His proposal was to reduce the funding increase from the $186,183 requested by the library to around $89,000.

“My suggestion today is not a cut, it’s a reduction to the increase,” Sampson said.

Sampson also said while he disagrees with library representatives’ assertions that late fees were a barrier to patrons, he’s not calling for them to return. What he takes issue with is that the organization got rid of a revenue source without finding a replacement.

Coun. Garth Frizzell, a member of the library’s board, said the city’s funding increases to the library have been around only 2.03 per cent over the past several years. He said that if that was the funding amount that other departments received, they would be in trouble.

He also pointed out that in 2021, when council approved a zero per cent tax increase, the library asked for no funding increase that year. On top of that, he said, most libraries are moving away from late fees.

“I appreciate the direction you’re going in, but I fundamentally disagree,” Frizzell said.

Coun. Cori Ramsay said her approach to the library that night was that you can appreciate something while still criticizing it. She said council has long asked for the library to improve its internally generated revenues and there are still opportunities to do so while reducing the burden on taxpayers.

On top of that, she said, council has had to deny requests from other non-profits who do just as important work because of the amount of funding going to the library.

Mayor Simon Yu described libraries as an equalizer where people of any status can go to learn and better themselves. He said he was sad to hear that CUPE-represented workers at the library received only a 2.25 per cent wage increase in their most recent contract.

Sampson’s motion ended up being defeated in a narrow 5-4 vote. Yu, Frizzell, Coun. Brian Skakun, Coun. Susan Scott and Coun. Trudy Klassen voted against the amendment while Sampson, Ramsay, Coun. Ron Polillo and Coun. Tim Bennett voted in favour.

However, Ramsay put another forward, a motion directing staff to help the library develop a five-year financial plan, saying that it would help provide the city with some funding certainty and that the city itself is required to have a five-year financial plan by legislation.

Coun. Trudy Klassen said she was conflicted about that request, saying the city doesn’t expect the same from other organizations it funds.

Director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio commented that while the city has a five-year financial plan, years three through five are typically rough estimates and aren’t counted upon the way the first two years are. He also said that under BC law, the city can’t obligate the library to hold to a five-year financial plan.

Ramsay’s motion passed by a margin of six to three with Yu, Klassen and Frizzell opposed.