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Started By
Message
re: SIAP- EBR Library tax
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:26 pm to Tiger99999
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:26 pm to Tiger99999
quote:
That is printed based on the low bid, public bid law. It's printed by Baton Rouge Printing. It is prepared in-house and the cost is about $5,000 a month.
It's somewhat annoying that this business in located in Port Allen (Please correct me if it's another Baton Rouge Printing). Making purchases with EBR tax dollars to then pay sales taxes in WBR seems off. Could nobody in EBR print these newsletters? Or, is this a tax exempt purchase for the library?
Not to mention that these are all available digitally on their web-site. Not knocking physical paper, but $60K per year is a chunk of money.
1
Posted on 1/16/26 at 2:49 pm to doubleb
Respectfully, you're unaware of how tax millages work. In Louisiana, using assumed numbers, if the library system (or any other property tax jurisdiction) wants to generate $50 million, it consults with the assessor and Finance Department who calculate that parish-wide properties are worth "X" billion, and that a tax rate of "Y" mills will provide $50 million in tax revenue. (Not to insult anyone's intelligence, but $X value times Y mills = $50 million)
Per the state constitution, properties are reassessed every four years, and a new total valuation is determined. If that new valuation is "X+$2 billion," the millage rate is automatically lowered to "Y - 0.5 mills," as the object is to generate the same $50 million that voters originally approved.
During a 10 year taxing period, the millage rate will constitutionally be reviewed and (almost always) lowered twice. This is known as a rollback, and it is generally how municipalities and governmental departments function.
The exception is if or when circumstances change, and a department will request to roll forward their millage. Again using arbitrary numbers, a department will approach the Metro Council to say "We'd like to keep our tax rate of 9.5 mills, not roll it back to 9.0 mills, and with the new valuation, generate $55 million in tax revenue." With the additional revenue, the department, agency, or municipality can address the reason the money is needed.
Briefly, if a new state or federal statute will cost $5 million, the taxing jurisdiction can either roll forward its millage rate, or reduce existing services by $5 million to fund that new statute.
FWIW, I can think of only once in 40 years when the Library's millage was rolled forward. Approximately 15 -17 years ago, because a former Metro Council member wanted a branch in his area, he led the push, on behalf of the library, to roll forward their existing millage and provide additional funds to construct that branch. After every other reassessment/new valuation, the millage rate was lowered.
TL:DR - the process of setting and lowering (or keeping) a millage rate is deliberate, calculated, and required by the state constitution.
Per the state constitution, properties are reassessed every four years, and a new total valuation is determined. If that new valuation is "X+$2 billion," the millage rate is automatically lowered to "Y - 0.5 mills," as the object is to generate the same $50 million that voters originally approved.
During a 10 year taxing period, the millage rate will constitutionally be reviewed and (almost always) lowered twice. This is known as a rollback, and it is generally how municipalities and governmental departments function.
The exception is if or when circumstances change, and a department will request to roll forward their millage. Again using arbitrary numbers, a department will approach the Metro Council to say "We'd like to keep our tax rate of 9.5 mills, not roll it back to 9.0 mills, and with the new valuation, generate $55 million in tax revenue." With the additional revenue, the department, agency, or municipality can address the reason the money is needed.
Briefly, if a new state or federal statute will cost $5 million, the taxing jurisdiction can either roll forward its millage rate, or reduce existing services by $5 million to fund that new statute.
FWIW, I can think of only once in 40 years when the Library's millage was rolled forward. Approximately 15 -17 years ago, because a former Metro Council member wanted a branch in his area, he led the push, on behalf of the library, to roll forward their existing millage and provide additional funds to construct that branch. After every other reassessment/new valuation, the millage rate was lowered.
TL:DR - the process of setting and lowering (or keeping) a millage rate is deliberate, calculated, and required by the state constitution.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:04 pm to HouseMom
quote:they have to go low bid - if a company out of Houston came in with the lowest bid to print the newsletters - they’d have to go with that company (the state of Louisiana banks with Bank of America - there are no BoA branches in Louisiana)
Making purchases with EBR tax dollars to then pay sales taxes in WBR seems off.
quote:the library likes to perpetuate the ‘digital divide’ lie - when I was in library school 20 years ago a digital divide existed - there were many, many people without smart phones, internet access, and computers. The divide is much smaller these days and the library ignores that. Yes, there are older people and some really bad off people that do not have access to the internet - but it is not as desperate as the library makes it out to be. Obama changed that with free phones for everyone and most public school kids getting cheap laptops
Not knocking physical paper, but $60K per year is a chunk of money.
I’m not saying libraries should not exist because there is no way a school library can keep up with demand for kids’ books with AR, and frankly, buying a book to read once is a waste of- but the library is just another wasteful social service. They should be able to pay their employees better with that extra money - but metro-council would never approve that
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:09 pm to ronniep1
Library system wants 50million. Does it really still need 50 million?
I think they could of recognized the current economic headwinds the city is facing and looked at their own bloated budget. Instead they gloated in the victory against Sid, and now want to shove it in his face. Problem is, people like me don't give a crap about that. They need to now justify why they still need as much money as ten years ago and every interview I have followed their representatives have failed. In fact, the interviews have only increased my worry about the amount of waste their bloated budget has allowed.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:11 pm to Tiger99999
They need to lower the mil
I have some dealings with the Library and have mixed feelings.
Mary has impressed me, but our conversations are limited to specific issues. She needs to read the room though and lower the mill and start to tighten up.
I have seen first hand where some of this "advertisement budget" goes and its ridiculous and unnecessary. I have also seen some of the OT employees are getting from these "Library Outreach" programs, its not right. The information is public, yall can look into it.
I have also dealt with some of the library employees, they are not the best. Understandably, finding good people is the hardest in any business, gets harder when the pay is bad, and lets not act like the Library Industry attracts some of the best talent to begin with. That said, the culture starts up top. She needs to get some people in check. Yes I understand its hard to change or fire people at the city but what better way than forced budget cuts.
There are some people with library maintenance that need to go. They could reduce the OT, reduce "advertising budget" and cut other employees to increase maintenance pay, bring in good talent then probably save hundreds of thousands in maintenance cost with the right people.
Its scary some of the decisions Ive seen made in relation to maintenance.
There are ALOT of women employed by the library.
TLDR ; I am okay with my money going to library services, i just think they are doing a shite job with the money and can do more with less.
I have some dealings with the Library and have mixed feelings.
Mary has impressed me, but our conversations are limited to specific issues. She needs to read the room though and lower the mill and start to tighten up.
I have seen first hand where some of this "advertisement budget" goes and its ridiculous and unnecessary. I have also seen some of the OT employees are getting from these "Library Outreach" programs, its not right. The information is public, yall can look into it.
I have also dealt with some of the library employees, they are not the best. Understandably, finding good people is the hardest in any business, gets harder when the pay is bad, and lets not act like the Library Industry attracts some of the best talent to begin with. That said, the culture starts up top. She needs to get some people in check. Yes I understand its hard to change or fire people at the city but what better way than forced budget cuts.
There are some people with library maintenance that need to go. They could reduce the OT, reduce "advertising budget" and cut other employees to increase maintenance pay, bring in good talent then probably save hundreds of thousands in maintenance cost with the right people.
Its scary some of the decisions Ive seen made in relation to maintenance.
There are ALOT of women employed by the library.
TLDR ; I am okay with my money going to library services, i just think they are doing a shite job with the money and can do more with less.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:12 pm to Tiger99999
quote:I really hate to be this person but jeez, read a book
I think they could of recognized
quote:probably not but it’s not like things are getting cheaper
Does it really still need 50 million?
Library has to pay their light bill, too
This post was edited on 1/16/26 at 3:17 pm
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:15 pm to GreenRockTiger
Got me there. 
And you don't hate to be that person
And you don't hate to be that person
This post was edited on 1/16/26 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:18 pm to Tiger99999
It’s ok - my last sentence in my post had to be edited 
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:22 pm to Tiger99999
quote:it was the second time you did it
And you don't hate to be that person
In one of your earlier posts, you said ‘would of’
I couldn’t let the second time go, sorry
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:22 pm to GreenRockTiger
quote:
they have to go low bid
I get that, it just looks funny when you google. We have around 20 print shops in EBR and the lone one across the river. Hard to believe nobody in the parish could match that price.
quote:
the library likes to perpetuate the ‘digital divide’ lie - when I was in library school 20 years ago a digital divide existed - there were many, many people without smart phones, internet access, and computers. The divide is much smaller these days and the library ignores that.
Correct. 20 years ago there was a true divide, but now even our homeless citizens have smart phones. I personally receive lots of newsletters, but they go straight into my inbox. I don't need LA Nursery, for example, to print something out for me.
quote:
I’m not saying libraries should not exist
As much scrutiny as I give them, I'm not saying that either. It's just that right now it feels like a subscription service I can't cancel. Ever. I want them to at least be good stewards of my money.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:26 pm to GreenRockTiger
Don't blame you at all. It's a horrendous habit of mine that always shows-up when I am typing fast and not really paying attention. Grammar is important and I have to really concentrate to avoid that crap. Drives me nuts. So feel free to correct me every time you see it
This post was edited on 1/16/26 at 3:29 pm
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:38 pm to MLSter
It’s been about 10 years since I’ve worked at the library, plenty has changed but much has stayed the same.
quote:this ruined the library. Totally ruined it. It was better when it was handled the old way - let real librarians go handle the outreach on a volunteer basis - but now they must pick the most ignorant, illiterate homeless people from the downtown branch - give them a shower and put them on the book mobile - AND they are allowed overtime. We were allowed OT (but usually just ‘regular additional’) until Farrar left and then it was like Nazi Germany and we couldn’t even sign in a minute early
"Library Outreach" programs
quote:to obtain a ‘librarian’ position you must have a masters degree in library and information science, to be a library technician you must have a bachelors - so you’d think they’d be able to hire at least literate people - but not when the majority of the tech hires are people with bachelors degrees from the degree mill on Harding Blvd
lets not act like the Library Industry attracts some of the best talent to begin with
quote:DPW used to have their own library division - not sure if that’s still the case - but it was pretty laughable
Its scary some of the decisions Ive seen made in relation to maintenance.
quote:most men that work at the library are gay or soy boy. The few actual men I worked with at the library have either retired or died. Most men, if they have families, are not going to settle for that little pay.
There are A LOT of women employed by the library.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:38 pm to ronniep1
quote:
1/16/26 at 2:49 pm to doubleb Respectfully, you're unaware of how tax millages work
Very nicely done, but your assumption is wrong. I understand how it works.
Here’s the long story short:
The Library bowed to political pressure and agreed to reduce their tax millages to 8.3 mills. They said they’d have to do some trimming, but they could manage.
The Library Board also agreed to transfer a substantial amount of their cash nest egg to the Parish General Fund. I believe that number was 50 million dollars.
We all know the Thrive Plan failed. The voters turned it down. This left the Library with no funding; thus the new proposal.
Now few people want the Libraries closed, but a lot of people I know want our tax dollars to be rededicated before we vote for any new taxes; thus the notion that the Libraries could afford a haircut.
From my point of view the 8.3 mills they agreed to accept plus the Library keeping their surplus funds appears to be a very fair deal and would let them continue to provide a good service to the community while saving taxpayers some money.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:44 pm to Trout Bandit
What a loser mentality.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:45 pm to broadhead
Yep. The gravy train days are OVER.
Time for all these deadweights to go get real jobs.
Time for all these deadweights to go get real jobs.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:48 pm to Lickitty Split
quote:
BREC, the library system, CATS, etc. are all stealing money
Who audits BREC?
Posted on 1/16/26 at 3:48 pm to HouseMom
quote:I agree totally - but that’s just how it is
Hard to believe nobody in the parish could match that price.
The specific library department I worked for burned a few bridges with printers while I worked there
so many companies probably didn’t even want to submit a bid quote:tbh - I think they have been - they could have nothing in savings - I think not overspending and not being frivolous is actually being overlooked - they aren’t providing services they can’t afford (many library systems do) and even though I do not think this amount of millage should pass - the library has shown they know how to spend money and with rising costs, they do need to have enough to maintain the standard they are at now.
I want them to at least be good stewards of my money.
However, I do think they provide too many services in some respects and that needs to be evaluated. I will vote no. I actually always have on library matters
Posted on 1/16/26 at 4:13 pm to Jauquismos
quote:
Who audits BREC?
The last reports were that BREC was a couple or three years behind in their audits.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 4:30 pm to Lickitty Split
quote:there are 15 branches
Why should government build 32 libraries in a Parish that’s losing population?
quote:who is the library overpaying? The national average for an entry-level librarian salary in the U.S. is around $65,000 annually. EBR Librarian 1 (which you need a masters degree in library science to get) starts at $39,157.
… the library system … are all stealing money. They over pay to try to keep their millage high.
Posted on 1/16/26 at 4:53 pm to MLSter
quote:
I have seen first hand where some of this "advertisement budget" goes and its ridiculous and unnecessary.
Like how they’re the sponsors of the Best of Baton Rouge Awards this year?
This post was edited on 1/16/26 at 4:54 pm
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