Transfer of 5 Libraries to Schools Urged

As part of his plan to get the county out of the library business, County Supervisor Frank Schillo wants to transfer control of five small branches to local school districts instead of closing them July 1.

Schillo and representatives from at least four area school districts plan to meet this morning to discuss the proposal, which the supervisor calls a last-ditch effort to save the community libraries.

“I am fighting against time to see if someone can take them over and save them,” Schillo said. “There is no question about it; they will be closed.”

School district officials generally reacted positively, saying the plan is worth considering, but they also cautioned that they have no extra money in their budgets for library services.

If no new money materializes by the end of the month, the county’s cash-poor Library Services Agency plans to shutter branches in Oak View, Meiners Oaks, Piru, Saticoy and El Rio.

County supervisors have cut the budget of the 16-branch library system almost in half in the last five years, and recently endorsed creation of a countywide library authority to take control of the larger branches that are within city limits. But the five smaller branches, which are in unincorporated county areas, were not covered in that plan.

Now, facing more than $20 million in cuts in next fiscal year’s budget, supervisors have told county library administrators that they will not get about $1 million in bailout money that was received last year to help keep the small branches open.

But some library supporters argue that bailing out these libraries should remain the county’s responsibility because the branches slated for closure are in unincorporated areas.

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“I don’t see why a school district would be willing to take on an additional burden,” said Lisa Meeker, an Ojai area library supporter. “The school districts don’t have a lot of money, so why should they be willing to take on a county responsibility?”

Schillo says the county simply does not have the money to operate the branches, adding that he believes that the school districts could run the libraries on less cash than the county agency.

Under Schillo’s plan, school districts in Ventura, Ojai, El Rio and Fillmore would split $420,515 in property taxes that the county now receives to operate the branches. In addition, the districts could still apply for the state and federal grants that the five libraries now receive as part of their $252,000 in other income.

Although the branches would no longer get any county bailout money, they would also no longer have to pay for such county services as maintenance and payroll, which Schillo says are excessive. These costs can total up to $20,000 for a library, according to figures provided by Schillo.

Schillo said that if the unincorporated county areas with branches pooled their property tax revenues earmarked for libraries, the school districts could share the money and run the branches without having to come up with additional cash.

“The areas would all get library service and they would all get it at the level we are promising them,” Schillo said.

But Meeker said she worries that school districts could end up having to subsidize libraries, especially if different county areas do not agree to pool property tax revenues.

Even if districts take over libraries, they will still need to pay to maintain the branches and perform payroll functions, she said. Library agency figures show that the five branches spend tens of thousands of dollars more than they receive in property tax revenues, meaning that they are essentially subsidized by other branches.

But Yolanda Benitez, superintendent of the Rio School District, likes the idea of taking over the El Rio Library, saying she believes that she could run the branch on just the $75,000 it receives annually in property tax revenue and grants. The branch spent $98,000 in fiscal year 1994-95 to operate.

“I can run a more competitive system because my overhead costs aren’t as large [as the county’s],” she said.

Benitez said El Rio cannot afford to lose its only library catering to both adults and children because many would simply not make the trek to the second closest library four miles away in Oxnard. She said she wants her district to assume control of the branch, which is larger than the libraries in the schools.

“We are not a rich neighborhood that has a Barnes & Noble next door,” Benitez said. “We need access to a library.”

Pam Martens, an assistant superintendent for the Ojai Unified School District, said she needs more information before deciding whether the district could operate the Oak View and Meiners Oaks branches.

Joseph Spirito, superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District, said he wants to save the Saticoy branch from closure for the community’s sake. But, he said, the district would be hard pressed to take control of the branch if that requires district money.

“I have to study this very carefully,” Spirito said. “I support it. But I would have a concern about the money portion of it.”