State Says It Can’t Bail Out Libraries

State officials told Ventura County leaders Thursday that they care about the county’s ailing library system, but can’t afford to bail it out.

Led by Supervisor Frank Schillo, a delegation of library supporters traveled to Sacramento on Thursday to ask the state to restore some of the money it took from local governments in the early 1990s.

That transfer of property tax revenues from local agencies to the state devastated the county library system’s annual budget, which has dropped from about $10 million to $5.8 million since 1992. As a result of a budget crisis, as many as seven county branches may close after June 30.

But Nancy Patton, assistant deputy director of the legislative unit of the governor’s office of planning and research, said the state cannot afford to restore the money.

“We are not in a position to talk about reversing property tax shifts,” Patton said in an interview after the morning meetings.

Patton said the county library system may be eligible for some money included in a $10-million state pilot project that would create partnerships between schools and public libraries. The money could be used to pay for computers, Internet access and other equipment to establish high-tech libraries.

Jim Friedman, a Ventura city councilman, called the Sacramento trip sobering.

“The fog has lifted, so to speak,” Friedman said.

“It is clear to me that we are going to have to take control of the destiny of our own libraries.”

Friedman said state officials told the delegation that the 15% income tax cut proposed in Gov. Pete Wilson’s latest spending plan does not mean the state has money to spare. Some local leaders had hoped excess revenues could spell relief for libraries. Instead, Friedman said state officials stated the tax cut would result in lower revenues in the state but would help stimulate the economy.