Because expenditures are outgrowing revenue from a joint sales tax, the Durango/La Plata Senior Center and Durango Public Library could fall off a “funding cliff” by 2017, according to Jessica Laitsch, La Plata County budget analyst.
From the county’s 2 percent sales tax, 11 percent of this revenue – the joint sales tax – provides the operating expenses for both the library and senior center.
Expenses for next year break down to $1.85 million for the library, $430,217 for the senior center and $10,000 for a landfill.
Projected expenses are $2.29 million, but revenue is only expected to be $2.14 million next year. The joint tax’s fund balance is expected to be down to $263,036 by the end of 2014.
“Well, that’s depressing,” said Councilor Sweetie Marbury during a Tuesday joint study session of the Durango City Council and the La Plata County commissioners.
The good news is, 6 percent growth in sales tax this year has given city and county officials a few more years to decide what to do about the pending funding cliff.
The answer might literally be up in the air. Officials decided to wait for the results of an engineering study at Durango-La Plata County Airport on the need for a new terminal before making decisions on future funding for the airport, library and senior center – all joint projects of the county and city.
“We don’t have all the information we want to make a comprehensive judgment, which is to say we’re going to kick the can down the road,” Mayor Dick White quipped.
Suffice to say, though, opening the library on Sundays is not in the picture for next year, which would add another $169,000 to the library budget, according to Andy White, the library director.
Mayor White said the library, senior center and airport are victims of their own success, attracting more patrons than they can handle.
The senior center, for example, provides 30,000 meals a year, 60 percent of which are Meals on Wheels, according to Sheila Casey, the director.
The suggested donation for a meal rose from $3 to $4 this year because of the funding problems, but senior citizens are not required to pay the fee.
Because of the library’s limited budget for buying books, availability is always an issue. Library Director White said, “Some days, our job is being nice and breaking bad news.”
jhaug@durangoherald.com
