Libraries reaping benefits from bill
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The county's two public library systems were winners yesterday when Gov. Ed Rendell approved table games at the state's casinos, but the predicted revenues might not cover looming deficits, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Director Barbara Mistick said yesterday.
"It's a first step, a wonderful sign that our county delegation is working together for libraries, but still, our budget gap remains greater than what the legislation will provide," Ms. Mistick said.
Projected revenues from the new law would bring the Carnegie Library between $750,000 and $850,000 by the end of year, said state Sens. Wayne Fontana, D-Beechview, and Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills, yesterday. Both played major roles in securing the library provisions and called the revenue estimates "conservative."
The Carnegie Library, however, foresees a $1.2 million deficit this year, a shortfall that prompted it to call for the closing of four neighborhood branches and the merger of two others Feb. 1.
The decision, now on hold, invoked community protests, drew $600,000 in additional funds from the city of Pittsburgh and prompted an investigation of library financial projections that could cost the Regional Asset District up to $70,000.
"It's still up to our elected officials and the community to help us find the sources of revenue we need," Ms. Mistick said. She added that Rivers Casino, source of the additional funding, has not performed up to expectations so far.
"We're getting generous community support, the city stepped up and now the state, but a new source of revenue would be a great help."
If the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh closes any branches by next year, it will lose the funding, the new law states.
The county's 44 community libraries, represented by the Allegheny County Library Association, will also benefit from casino revenues, but their share will be 15 percent less because that amount will go to boosting Monroeville's convention center.
Also, libraries serving 15 municipalities that are deemed economically distressed will pick up additional money, Mr. Costa said.
"One of the county delegation's concerns were towns that were struggling economically. We felt these poorer communities needed more help," he said.
Those communities will share about $130,000, he added.
Under the table games legislation, Rivers Casino pays a 1 percent tax to Carnegie Library and another 1 percent to the county, of which 85 percent would go to Allegheny County libraries. The remaining 15 percent would go to VisitMonroeville.
The state Department of Education will manage the allocations.
First Published January 8, 2010 12:00 am
