MRRL weighs impact of Nixon's withholdings

Gov. Jay Nixon's recent withholdings and restrictions to the state budget could have a significant impact on the state's libraries, according to Claudia Schoonover, interim library director of the Missouri River Regional Library.

"We are concerned, obviously, and with good reason," Schoonover told the MRRL board Tuesday night. "We will do what we can to tighten our belts. We are asking some to cut back or stay the same as last year."

Nixon vetoed or froze more than $1.1 billion from the state budget. Those withholdings include $3.1 million for the Remote Electronic Access for Libraries (REAL) appropriations. REAL provides Missourians the opportunity to use the Internet for research, education, business and recreation at libraries, according to the website for the libraries' internet service provider MOREnet.

Because of the withholdings the MRRL has not been able to reach an agreement with MOREnet for its services for the 2015 fiscal year, according to a report from Schoonover. Last year the MRRLB had to pay roughly $13,000 for access to MOREnet, but with the lack of REAL appropriations the cost is approximately $15,000 more, Schoonover said.

"We are going to have to tighten up our budget," Schoonover explained. "That may mean less books for materials, it may mean not replacing some positions when people go. Right now we are putting that budget together for next year and looking at everything."

The board also discussed its involvement with the state's pending legal action with the Ameren

Corporation. Ameren officials think the assessors in 16 counties - including Cole, Callaway and Moniteau counties - over-assessed the value of the company's natural gas systems. The utility has taken its concerns to the State Tax Commission, as the law requires.

The board agreed to pay $4,969.95 to contribute to litigation expenses in defending the accessor's value. In the past, the MRRL would receive more than $21,000, around 4 percent, from the revenue of Ameren's property taxes. If Ameren wins its appeal and its property is accessed at a lower value then the MRRL would not lose the full amount of the appropriations, but just receive less, Schoonover said.

In other news, the board is still searching for a new permanent director. The Director Search Committee headed by Abbey Rimel, board president, has interviewed two candidates and scheduled a third interview on July 28.

The board has also started a program to showcase local writers. The board decided to start this program after noticing a rise in request from library patrons for the MRRL to purchase the patron's self-published books.

The program is titled "Local Authors Showcase" and the MRRL has already hosted four authors for the program. The authors were able to speak to an audience about their works, which included a memoir, a business success primer, a novel and letters from a World War II hero. The board is considering offering the program more than once a year.

Information for this story was contributed by News Tribune Reporter Bob Watson.