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Budget Woes: Century Library Could Be Closed; Molino Might Never Open
April 4, 2012
The Century Branch Library could be closed and the currently under construction Molino Library may never open due to budget problems.
The county is facing a $9.5 million budget shortfall, most of which is due to a new Medicaid law signed last week by Gov. Rick Scott. That law will force the county to pay $6.2 million to the state for disputed Medicaid bills that have been adding up for about a decade.
To make up the shortfall, Escambia County is looking to cut 100 percent of its funding for branch libraries — all $3.7 million. Escambia County funds about 75 percent of the current library system, while the City of Pensacola funds about 25 percent. Libraries in the city will not be closed.
“In a worst case scenario, the Century and Southwest branch libraries would be closed and Molino would never open,” said Bette Hooton, president of the library’s board of directors. “It shocking, absolutely shocking, to consider that Escambia might be the only county in the state without a library system.”
Escambia County is expected to consider at least three options to keep the libraries open — an August referendum in voters could approve a property tax levy; a property tax levy imposed by the county without referendum; a yearly user fee — $50 per person has been suggested — imposed on every Escambia County resident that uses the library.
The property tax levy to cover the county’s budget shortfall for the library would amount to 0.35 mils, or $35 on a home worth $100,000.
“We are hopeful that we can work together with the county to solve this problem without a referendum,” Hooton said. “But we are not going to go down like this. We’ll fight for the referendum if that is what it takes.”
Escambia County owns the building and property of the Century Branch Library and owns the under construction Molino Library property. However, all of the books and other materials are owned by the City of Pensacola, including about 11,000 items in the Century library.
Meanwhile, construction to convert the former Molino School into a community center and library is continuing. That project is already funded by Escambia County.
Hooton said the library system in Escambia County is a bargain. The cost to run Escambia’s libraries is currently about $16 per person; the state average is $32 per person.
Pictured top: The Century Branch Library. Pictured inset: Construction is underway to convert the old Molino School into a library and community center. NorthEscambia.com file photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
47 Responses to “Budget Woes: Century Library Could Be Closed; Molino Might Never Open”
Locals .Stop buying lottery tickets, Harley’s, bass boats, 4 wheelers, 89999 inch plasma TVs,junk food ,etc,etc, and open your own library.
Stop waiting on the govt.
Books are very expensive to print, publish, ship, maintain, etc. Internet is much more cost effective and easier to find anything you want to read. Huge grandiose libraries are a waste of scarce assets to serve only a few people at most. Those that are still standing and collecting dust should be declared as historical landmarks and have a huge wifi router placed on top.
@SOUTHERNER not all people can AFFORD to buy their own books! That is why so many people are THANKFUL for ALL the library branches!!! It’s good that YOU can afford to buy books from stores but I’m just sayin that not EVERYONE has all the extra spending money to go out and buy books from a store! Just paperback books alone are about $15.00, and hardback books range from $15.00 and up, and that’s just in our local WALMARTS which is just about the cheapest place to buy them.
Has anyone thought about the 1cent local option sales TAX, that is what paid for the Citys new fire Houses and Librarys. but know matter what it will never be enough, with the leaders we have in office. and what about all the ROADS that the 1 cent hike in taxes was supposed to pay for. the COUNTY just needs another bucket of MONEY to throw away,at our expence…
@ southerner, what happens to the children who’s parents don’t have the money to go and buy the books every time they have a book report due or to say the least JUST WANT TO READ. I don’t know if you have bought a book lately, but they are not cheap even down to the paperbacks. I guess you don’t get to your local “public library” very much because there are morte things to do than checkout books. They have programs for the children, movies, and they also have computers to use. They can help you sign up for social security, or even help with unemployment, and the unemplyment line is where these workers will be if we as citizens of “Escambia County” don’t do something.
LivinMolino,
Books are not on “the way out.” at least not from my point of view and the point of views of many of my friends.
There should be no “public library” paid for with taxpayer money. Buy your own books.
We could have used money use to build the boat ramp on the perdido river.Our county is working like the Obama administration, spend until we’re broke and then raise taxes.
@ Lady Please dont encourage your friends and neighbors to come to Alabama..They will pay income tax they will pay sales tax on groceries. They may want a bottle of liquor for a celebration and will go to a state owned store to buy that also. They will destroy their vehicles on unkept roads not to mention all the litter thrown out the windows as they drive from point a to point b. We can not have a Lottery we can not have Bingo without harrassment from Montgomery. I could go on and on but I am sure you are getting the picture.
First of all the North end of Escambia County has always gotten the shaft. Now we have to drive half-way to Pensacola to buy car tags, drivers license and all other license when we had a nice building in Century but what did they do, closed it completely down. They could have kept it open 1-2 days each week with two people on staff but no they keep as tax official in office drawing a tremdous salary and also drawing retirement. Check this out and we are closing all facilities in the North end. They built all the PUBLIC OFFICE, COURT SYSTEM as far south as possible on very expensive property when they could have put all of it on 9-mile road where the old airfield was and the North end would not have to drive ALL THE WAY DOWNTOWN WITH NO PARKING FACILITIES THAT ARE FREE. Several candidates have run for office in North end and I don’t mean Molino-Cantonment area but further north in years past to try to stop some of this but they made the county lines for voting reaching past 9-mile road so you don’t have enough our people to get a voice on the county commission. We are taxed to death on our homes,our land, insurance just to say we live in the great STATE OF FLORIDA. I tell all the younger folks MOVE TO ALABAMA not Florida. I wish I could start over again.
As a home school mom, and a tax payer, I am given very little for free to help me educate my children. The Century Library has been a godsend for us! We can order books from other libraries, use the reference section to help with reports and consult with our lovely library ladies who help us locate materials we seek and go above and beyond their job responsibilities to help everyone who enters. I realize that some think this old fashioned in this day and age, but learning to research without Google is still an important skill. There are tons of things that my tax money goes to that I am not consulted about nor do I approve. I make more trips to Pensacola for events and supplies than I like to already. This library is one of the only positive places left in a town stripped of its schools and jobs. Books, for a lot of us, are NOT on their way out. Yet, books can be a way out for children seeking to elevate themselves and have a better life.
Nice said sister (Stephanie) I am not happy with this at all, and neither is my mom Christie who works at the Century Library! This budget stuff is crap! I think I am moving away from Escambia county Florida because this budget stuff is all y’all ever talk about, and it’s getting very OLD!!!!!
I read somewhere that there are 30-40 thousand people holding library cards.
If you divide that number into 3.7 million it slightly exceeds Ms. Hootons estimate of 16 dollars a person. HUH?
The new downtown branch with a coffe house built in was a waste. Try Books a Million.
FYI: 70 to 72% of the people who use the library system live in the county. The City also has another tax for their residents. Almost 100% of the people who use Century Library is from our county area. The staff is paid by the city. Let’s all be fair and honest.
The Medicad mess (possibly some fraud in it) was given to the county by the state and our local officials can do nothing about it at the moment – they are trying. In the meantime they are MANDATED to submit a balanced budget. They must give up something.
The city of Pensacola paid for the new big library. The county did not pay for it.
If we agree to a 3.5 mill increase they will have enough money to replace what is loss by the medicad mess this year. That may sound like lots of money but if you are taxed on $100,000 dollars it will cost you $35. Think about that. That is per home – not person.
Bless all of you – this is a mess. I love this county and it’s citizens and will support the libraries the best I can.
If any branch needs to be closed (should never have been opened), it’s the one on Cervantes st. The downtown main brach is very close. So, there’s two libraries very close together. Keep the Century and Perdido branches open.
Smells fishy. Why did they buy Molino Elementary when they knew this whole time they did not have the money to follow through with their plan? Money exchanged hands somewhere and went into someone’s pockets again.
Hard to believe so many people think it’s a good idea to do away with public libraries.
Or student loans.
America isn’t dumb enough for them, I reckon.
Let’s make education something only the rich or well-off can afford
User fees: Okay- you can only use roads if you pay for them, courts if you pay for them, beaches, parks, and all other PUBLIC LANDS, if you pay for them, etc. Over and over and over again.
I’d gladly allott to public libraries my taxes that are spent on traffic control, off-duty cops’ gym privileges, over-budget DOD items, and many other such programs/projects so dear to so many “dumb ‘em down” advocates.
I wonder if any of the county commissioners read northescambia.com and I wonder if they even know how we feel about this? Whether or not we agree with each other…does anyone think maybe the county commissioners are out of touch?
Another kick in the face to North Escambia. Let’s start by cutting the pay of the Commissioners by 50% – $38k to $50k should be enough for them to survive. (Did you know the Commissioners make between $75,000 and $100,000 a year? No wonder so many are running for Commission positions!) Most of us on the North end survive on FAR LESS!
Sandra, We who use P’cola’s stores and such also pay their city taxes, Don’t see anything in Century or surrounding area for them to spend their money on. CAN I HEAR “ONE WAY STREET”. I realize things are tough in a small town but my goodness, taxpayers live in the extreme north end too and most work in the south end, or at least a whole lot of traffic comes from that way.
We need things here too the tax office was a bad idea to close, I say let others do the traveling for the little things I’m tired of it.
Derek Bok, former president of Harvard University once said, and I quote, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”
Build a baseball park for millions… get rid of books?
Seriously? Thats it? I’ll donate my property to the county if they will cut the grass, fertilize it and maintain the landscaping til i die. Oh, but I still get to use it. LOL Incredible!
hmm… first our school then our library really!!!i dont understand let take away the only positive things in this little place so then our children can do drugs,fight,and robb stores for a living or (fun)!!!why do we even have our little junior college ill never know to get these people hopes up thinking they may beable to do something with theyre life well i hate to discourage u theyll take that next!!!soo sad
The town of Century GAVE the building & land to the county for the library. The library up there is for the people who live in the north end of the county, it is not a town of Century only library. In my book a nice building and property on Hwy 29 is worth a lot.
@trish. I am well aware that the city runs the library system. My statement was that the city pays the county for the library system and they do. The county only funds 72% of the budget with the city paying the rest. My statement was to show contrast as to the town of Century (once again) not paying their fair share and getting service for free…..kinda like the ECAT bus that makes trips to Century for an average cost of 22 dollars per passenger while the fare remained far less.
If The GOP’s blockers had let the healthcare bill clear back in the days of Pres. Clinton (the last President that left the office with no deficit)..there would be no Medicaid expenses entailed by the uninsured who regularly use the ER as their form of healthcare. And Escambia County, probably one of the poorest counties in Florida would not have such an expensive Medicaid cost; but of course the Republicans cannot think that far in advance, they are so afraid somebody is going to get something for free. I found it ironic that Rick Scott who became a millionaire while embezzling the Medicare system while he was an employee of the HCA ..Hospital Corp. of America..now wants the money he made, to be paid back by the tax payers & of all things, to take away the libraries of rural areas is just beyond comprehension. I really am bewildered by the people that actually voted for this hypocrite.
Sandra: yes I understand about really paying for the services, I am a property owner. I was trying to make a point and evidently you do not agree which is fine. By the way you also need to get the facts straight, the county pays the city to run the library system. Don’t believe me look it up at your local library.
@SLB , City of Pensacola residents pay city as well as county taxes so they are paying for “their” libraries as well as those in the county. The City of Pensacola pays the county for the library system. I would welcome the town of Century in budgeting and paying some of the expenses of “their” library although personally I’d just as soon see em go ahead and shut em down before paying more taxes. Non essential services ( libraries) should be the first thing on the chopping block when you have a budget crisis.
If century library closes, their citizens can always use the Flomaton library. Non Escambia county al residents can use their services for a small $5 annual fee. It isn’t ideal, but it may be the best option available if they continue with their plans.
Escambia has 6.2 million in disputed bills while Santa Rosa has something like $600,000?! Again, the citizens pay the price for Escambia County’s mismanagement. Worst county in the state…..
@Trish. maybe you dont think you use those services but indirectly you do. You see, although you may not have called the fire dept to your home, you recieve lower insurance rates due to their efforts to better their training and upgrade equipment. You may not have had to call the deputies to your home but maybe that is because they are out there 24/7 watching and arresting criminals before they can get to you. Thank God for em. They also are arresting the drunks so the streets are safe for you. If you dont buy a fishing license then you dont pay for boat ramps as this is where the revenue comes from. Do you see where I’m going with this? I can go further and deeper into it if need be.
Thanks dad, glad for the support. I am sending emails to all of the commissioners and Randy Oliver and encouraging all of my friends to do the same.
It seem that the welfare mentallity is the way some people think. If you use it, you pay for it. No matter if its a library or not you think its your given right to sponge off everyone. The user fee is the best way to go, or just close the librarys.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they have a book mobile too that takes $$$ to operate!
Look at the pictures (link below) of the big fancy libraries in Pensacola and then look at the one in Century. Now who do you think requires the most money in upkeep. payroll and etc….than Century?
http://library.cityofpensacola.com/page.asp?pID=21077
IT NEVER FAILS….when Escambia County Florida has a short fall in the budget, the first place they start looking to see if they can cut something out to take up the slack is up on the Northend of the County.
The West Florida Public Library (not counting the Century or appending Molino location) in Pensacola currently has 4 locations (Main, Tyron, Southwest, Westside) plus they have the WF Genealogy Library on 9th Ave. Why aren’t they even considering closing down one of 4 locations in Pensacola and leave the one in Century open for those of us on the northend of the county? We are tax paying citizens and have needs too!
I do not think that charging a $50 member fee is going to solve any short term or long term problems, because most do not have that to spare and would just stop visiting the libraries all together. So what is that going to accomplish?
If the perpetrators (according to the news) of this budget shortfall is due to Medicaid fraud, then they are the ones who should be held accountable to pay back the money. That burden/responsibility shouldn’t be placed on tax payers who are already taxed out the yean-yang in increased property taxes, member fees or services taken away!
I would post a comment but Trish said everything I was thinking. She is right on the mark.
Seriously??? Ever since the Century library opened about 6 years ago, I have been with them every step of the way! I volunteer there every summer and am there when they need me during the year! I have seen what good having a library in Century does, for the kids and for the adults. I really hope that they find an alternitive solution to shutting down the library because there will many unhappy people, myself included. Mrs. Christie, Mrs, Rhonda, and Mrs. Pat all work hard to make sure that library is people friendly and they are more like family to me. I understand the tax thing, but seriously? People have to pay a monthly fee to read books at a PUBLIC library? I don’t agree with that, but if it helps save the library, go for it.
Why is it that if anything has to be closed, it has to come from our area?? We have to go to Cantonment or Pensacola to do any kind of business… Why not leave something open here and let ‘Pensacolians ‘drive up here for a change???? They might even spend a little cash here………
To livinMolino: I also live in Molino, if you don’t understand why a library is being opened then you obviously have never been to one. Your loss, you would be amazed at the number of people who DO use the library and really appreciate it. Everyone has fallen on hard times but libraries have computers where people can apply for unemployment, food stamps, etc. Those government offices DON’T help people anymore they send the people to use the library to apply. And books are not on their way out, statistics have shown that.
To Shiloh: Maybe you should think a little before you speak. “Let the people that use the library pay for the use of it”. I have not needed the sheriff’s department at my house, thank god not the fire department, I don’t have children in schools anymore, I don’t use the ball fields and I don’t use boat ramps. I am willing to pay for those things but in return I want a library where I can go and get all forms of services.
We have one of the worst school districts in the state and now lets try to make everyone even more ignorant. Way to go county commissioners, you keep the voters dumb and uneducated and you have an easier time of brain washing them to get re-elected to do what you want.
This whole thing does not surprise me, actually it would surprise me if any part of
government ever finished where they started when it comes to anything other than
their own pockets. I’m betting they have theirs and now look what is expendable, just another thing that will educate the future children of this world. They got in over their head and left nothing in the coffers for emergencies. Every young mother knows better than that so she can always provide bread and milk on the table or take the baby to the doctor. The town’s big shots don’t know what any young mother knows.
Spend Spend Spend this country into the poor house, and never give what is promised. The federal government needs money to keep on spending, the states
need money to keep on spending, the poor needs money to keep on spending.
Those who work better get a SECOND JOB because YOUR going to foot all
this foolishness, and let’s not talk about the criminals who steal from us in
medicare, medicade, unemployment and welfare.
Rick Scott, the peoples choice. Funny thing, I can find no one who voted for him.
Books are AWESOME and it would be a sad thing NOT to have a library close enough for people of Molino to access. Books open the mind & imagination to a whole new world. There is NOTHING that compares to the feel & smell of a book. Take away books and you restrict the potential of the people. ALL of the GREATS, from Abraham Lincoln – Einstein – to Mark Twain, ALL had a passion and the passion for BOOKS! The love of reading is being lost! Ask any educator and they will tell you that we have an entire generation of NON READERS! Children who would rather listen to book or mindlessly sit in front of the television. A generation who has too many txt or slang abbreviations and CAN NOT SPELL! Take note – this is the reason READING has been such a huge FCAT push!
A library for Molino could build so many minds! Not just children but adults as well! If te library can be reduced in size then add conference rooms – learning centers – an area that community groups could rent! There are limitless opportunites for such a place! **BTW-perhaps NOT building a new Tax Payers office would be an easier solution! They already have a location….
**I really would hope the budget is for the libraries are reconsidered! Technology is great – don’t get me wrong – but the “very few” deserve the same access to the same opportunities as the majority.
I made comments against this library and got alot of nasty comments back.With the economy where it’s at and government waste at an all time high,it just wasn’t a good idea.Now look. This shows how any level of government loves to spend, whether they can afford it or not.It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see this was a bad idea. Of course we could raise taxes…..huh!
A users fee is the way to go. Let the people that use the library pay for the use of it. A lot, the vast marjorty of the people have NEVER been to a library and don,t wish to pay a “tax” for it.
I see they aren’t talking about closing the new DMV building they are in the process of working on. As usual they north end of the county gets the shaft and Pensacola doesn’t have to give up anything! If the cost of the library is about $16-$32 per person what makes them think we will pay $50??? Ad the bill to our tax dollars without a referenden? I don’t think so! Fire the County Commissioners! Vote them out! We are tired of being on the short end of the stick and having to pay more money in taxes when we get nothing to show for it! This library is for more than just books! It has a community center and a place for the Historical artifacts.If the county didn’t pay for medicaid costs that is the problem and Pensacola needs to pay also!
With all the budget cuts the last several years….I don’t understand why we are opening a library in Molino…. A lot of money for very few people to use. I think the better use for those funds would be to feed the homeless or assist some of these families in this area that have fallen on hard times. Besides, books are on the way out…just like cassette tapes and LP records.