Solebury supervisors are holding a public forum at the New Hope-Solebury High School auditorium at 6 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss boosting the township’s share of financial funding for the Free Library of New Hope & Solebury.
The library has asked Solebury Township to increase its contribution from $120,000 to $170,000 to help cover a $80,000 deficit in their operating expenses.
The Free Library says that it receives the lowest per capita contribution of any public library in Bucks County, and that Solebury residents use 70% of its services. It delivers more than $115 in resources per year to every member of the community, and their request equates to about $6 per Solebury resident.
Solebury supervisors recently conducted an on-line survey of township residents, asking whether they should significantly increase their level of funding for the library, and if the increased funds should be raised by a tax increase or from cuts in other budget areas.
The library has also asked New Hope to increase its contribution. This year’s budgets call for Solebury Township to provide $120,000 in funding and for New Hope to furnish about $44,000.
I attended and spoke at last night’s meeting which in my estimate had about 150 people nearly all of whom were senior citizens like myself who make extensive use of the library. I applauded the five Solebury supervisors for, “calling the meeting to get First Hand input from their constituents. This shows your concern for the community in which you live and represent.
I would hope that the New Hope Borough Council also calls a meeting HERE to get input from their constituents who believe as I do that the library is not getting its fair share of funds.