Marketing Library Budget Vote

Question

We are a free association library. More than 90% of our funding comes from a tax levy voted on by local residents when they vote on our local school district budget.

We are considering strategies for reminding library patrons to go out and vote. We do not have a friends group.

We know that the library cannot say “vote yes.” But we are unsure of where the line is.

Answer

To answer this question, we need to leave the hard, unyielding pavement of a clear prohibition (We know that the library cannot say “vote yes.”) and hang out in the weeds.

Which weeds?

Let’s go with:

Return of School District Tax Levy Money

Question

Our library gets taxpayer funding from its own line on a school district tax bill. We know this "259" funding is a recurring tax that can only be changed with approval of the voters. That said, this year the total amount remitted by the school district was reduced due to "corrections" made after the tax bills went out.

Answer

The short answer is yes, it's true. A school district tax levy, even if it’s a separate line on a school district bill in support of a library, can be reduced if a taxpayer challenges their assessment after the tax bills go out, and yes, since 2022, a library may have to refund overpayments.

Handling Funds for Friends of the Library

Question

There seems to be a trend for libraries that have Friends groups to hold fundraisers, donations, and membership drives at the library. In some instances, the library collects money for the Friends and pays it to them at a later date.

Answer

Ideally, a public library does NOT handle the money of another entity, even for "Friends."  Ever.

That said, there is no law barring a library from helping out a partner or organization with cash handling for events; this "never" rule comes from risk management, not the law.  

Charitable organization filing requirements for small (under 50k) “Friends”

Question

Are incorporated "Friends", who do not receive over $50 thousand, do not have paid staff, and are only able to provide the funds to the library, required to register [with the New York Attorney General] and submit the CHAR500 form?

Answer

When one considers becoming a "Friend" of a library, several activities spring to mind:

Can Library Surplus Funds Be Added to Municipal General Fund

Question

We are a small municipal library serving a village of 6500 & a town population the same size. Our village trustees have decided to take our balance from the 2022-2023 fiscal year & add to the village general fund. Does New York State Education Law #259 apply here?

Answer

For me, the most persuasive commentary on this topic is from the NYS Comptroller, who wrote in 2002:

Reallocation of Earmarked Library Funds

Question

Is it legal for a library board to approve expenditures (without a referendum) for a capital project from its operating funds (or operating fund balance) to bridge a shortfall in bond monies earmarked for the construction of a new building?

Answer

Before I address this question, let's parse the meaning of "legal."

There's "legal" as in: Is this specifically against the law?

There's "legal" as in: Is this not only not specifically against the law, but generally allowed?

And there's "legal" as in: Is this a cool thing to do?

Can Libraries Sell Items For Revenue?

Question

Several of the library's board members feel that it is illegal for the library to sell anything other than books and keep the money. They believe that the library cannot "ask for money". That function (selling items, asking for money, etc) is a function of the Friends group.

Answer

Before we get to the main question (can libraries sell things to raise money?), we must refine something the member mentions in passing.