Big Horn County Library requests help on utility bills from Basin Town Council

At the Basin Town Council Feb. 12 meeting, County Library System Director Tina Ely told the council she was before them to ask for help from the city of Basin on the utilities. 

“Yes, we are a county building, but the city of Basin people are who our patrons are. And the outlying areas too,” Ely addressed the council. 

 She reported there are at least 1,000 people through the library doors on a monthly basis while their county budget has been cut by $70,000. The commissioners have told her that the budget will be cut more in the next fiscal year. 

“We are asking all of the towns help us at least with our town bill, if it is possible. I know taxes are bad. They are down. I don’t agree with what the state legislature did, but we are going to have to suck it up and figure it out,” Ely said.  

She continued that hours have been cut, two libraries were closed and the staff is down to a string. 

“If you love your library, support your library, we need some help. Whatever you can help us with. Any little bit helps,” Ely said. She gave examples of the garbage pickup and water bill. “Because the county commissioners will not pay for any of that. We’ve asked. They say no.” 

Councilperson Linda Weeks responded, “I love our library. I do, but I am struggling with this because it is a county facility. Yes, you are in the town of Basin, but it is like we are robbing Peter to pay Paul. We also have a very limited budget.” 

The town has limited property taxes and are getting less. She is unclear on where the money would come from, as if it is taken it would have to come from someplace else. She suggested foundation fundraisers. 

“A thought is that those who are now saving on taxes could donate to help the library. Think out of the box instead of coming to the towns that are also struggling,” she suggested. 

Ely told Weeks she understands. There is a library foundation and friends. “The
foundation has stepped up. Our friends have stepped up. We have some good volunteers. Our only problem is…and I write grants…they pay for certain things and salaries are not one of them. Utilities is not one of them. Insurance is not one of them. Grants pay for programs. Foundations pay for basically programs and books.” 

The budget for the three libraries (Basin, Greybull and Lovell) is $180,000. 

Mayor CJ Duncan told Ely that for the town it is a different situation. “Property tax for us, the town specifically, is streets and alleys, police department. We pay, a portion of our property tax goes right to the Fire District for fire coverage. What you are asking is for us to take away from our enterprise funds, because while the town doesn’t make a lot of money, we have to make enough money to cover those enterprise funds. Water, sewer, electric, gas. Those are the things we sell to the public.” 

Duncan continued that the money the library is asking for is not property tax money.  The request is to get a break on the cost of the services the library is using. If the council approved the request, it would impact how the police are paid, maintenance on equipment, and how they pay the water bill. The town purchases its water bulk. Effectually should the request be granted it would mean that the people that live within the boundaries of the town may have to face an increase on their bills to make up the difference. 

Ely stated she is asking for an investment in the library and the children. “With the full understanding of what I am asking for, I have to tell you our staff puts in many hours a day. The pay is minimal. The benefits are nothing. Mostly they do it for the love of their work.” 

Duncan noted that the town has entities that are subsidized. The buildings that hold the American Legion/ Basin Area Chamber and the Basin City Arts Center are owned by the town. It is hard for him to get past that the library is a county property and it would take the town to have to alter the way they do business to support this request. 

In response Ely said “I realize that the county owns the building, but you have to understand too, they will not support the library. They will not help us with utilities. It is not for lack of asking. The board has gone before them and said we need some help. You have cut our budget by $70,000 can you at least pay our utilities. No was the answer.” 

Duncan said he did some preliminary math. What the town has charged the library in utilities is around $7,000 a year. About $576 a month. Ely pointed out that part of the cost is the electricity. She is not asking for the electricity bill. “If it could be something as simple as the water and the garbage, we would appreciate any little bit you can do. We are bleeding out over there. In all our libraries.” 

She continued that she has already approached the Lovell town council with the same request. The discussion was tabled by that council. 

Both Godfrey and Councilperson Mike Dellos expressed concern that if the town does this for the library, there will be other entities that request similar. There was also concern from the council members that they haven’t seen the town budget yet to know what cuts may have to be made. They don’t want to encumber the town with the request before knowing their own budget. The council voted to table the discussion. Ely thanked the council for their time. 

An inquiry was sent to the county commissioners regarding the statement that the county does not pay the libraries utilities. The following was received from County Commission Chair Deb Craft. 

 Commissioner Deb Craft explained that utilities are a part of the budget for the libraries as it is for other areas like Search and Rescue, Emergency Management, both North and South Senior Citizen Centers and Big Horn County Public Health.

Craft went on to explain that every department in the county was asked to make cuts. Those departments determined where the cuts would be made. Nine departments took bigger cuts than the library’s $70,000.  The County Treasurer’s office was cut over $160,000 which includes one less employee. Law enforcement, maintenance coroner, road/bridge, emergency management and detention center all were cut over $100,000.  Three departments are short staffed because there is a hiring freeze. 

“As less and less money comes to the county, budget cuts are a reality. None of us want to ask the departments to make cuts. It is the reality of the times in Wyoming.” She anticipates that there will be more cuts in the upcoming year due to less property taxes coming in. 

OTHER BUSINESS

• Department reports were provided for public works, electrical, administration, and police. 

• The council voted to provide a letter of support or The Cottonwood Canyon Trail Plans in Lovell. 

• A building permit for a shed was approved for Bathauer on South Eighth Street. 

• Liquor license renewals were approved for Homax Oils Sale dba Overland Express Mart, Lost Boys, LLC dba Stockmans and Basin Grub dba Basin’s Market. The renewal for Big Horn Co-op was tabled until the March council meeting. 

• The appraisal for the old town hall has been completed but not been received by the town yet. 

• The updated cell phone and mobile device usage policy was adopted. 

• An executive session was held to discuss contracts.