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Agenda Item
3 25-0065 Subject: 2024 Library Commission Annual Report
From: Oakland Public Library
Recommendation: Receive An Informational Report From The Oakland Public Library Commission (LC) For Fiscal Year 2023-2024
I was distressed to read the report from the City Finance Committee regarding library (OPL) funding. OPL is funded through Measures C and D (parcel taxes approved by voters) and the General Fund. Measures C and D require minimum contributions from the General Fund for tax collection. Only in the event of a "Severe and Unanticipated Financial Event" can this General Fund amount be reduced. Specific procedures and findings must take place before this reduction can occur. The report from the Finance Committee fails to address whether these steps were taken.
Failure to follow these requirements place the current and future OPL budgets in a precarious position. If these requirements were not met, under the provisions of Measures C and D, the parcel taxes (which represent 75% of the library's budget) cannot be collected. In that event, the library system would be decimated.
OPL is needed more than ever. It is one of very few spaces that are free and open to all. It offers more than just books, providing free tax help, literacy programs, health information, public safety (safe places for children and teens to go after school), meals, cooling and emergency/resilience hubs and so much more.
Please do not accept the Finance Committee Report as it now stands and ensure OPL funding now and in the future.
The supplemental report provided by the Finance Department does not answer the question of whether or not last year's Library GPF reduction was in compliance with Measures C & D. Some followup questions for Finance and City Admin:
1. Is the city experiencing a "Severe and Unanticipated Financial Event?" If so, why were multiple reports from your team *anticipating* future deficits & presented to City Council in 2021, 2022 and 2023 not considered when making this declaration?
2. Did the City Admin ever submit a report to City Council describing the steps taken to avoid the need to reduce the Library's GPF appropriation, or future steps that will be taken to restore it? If so, please provide a copy of any such report(s).
3. Are you sure the % reduction in the Library GPF appropriation is less than or equal to the % reduction in the net non-safety GPF? If so, please provide the following:
a. Total net non-safety GPF appropriation before & after the reduction
b. Total Library GPF appropriation before & after reduction.
c. Any definitions & calculations needed to reproduce the above numbers from publicly available data, or else the original dataset used to derive these numbers.
5. Is the City aware that continuing failure to either restore the full Library GPF appropriation or else demonstrate that all GPF reduction requirements of Measure C and D are met could result in catastrophic loss of up to 75% of Library funding? What is the city doing to mitigate this risk?
I'm writing as a concerned Oakland resident who cares deeply about our public libraries. The City's failure to meet the General Purpose Fund requirements set by Measures D and C puts over $40 million in parcel tax funding — and the future of our entire library system — at serious risk. The Finance Department’s delayed and insufficient response does not clearly show that the City is in compliance with these voter-approved measures. Until that compliance is verified, our libraries remain vulnerable. I urge the Life Enrichment Committee to demand transparency, accountability, and full funding for Oakland’s libraries.
Dear Councilmembers,
I was distressed to read the report from the City Finance Committee regarding library (OPL) funding. OPL is funded through Measures C and D (parcel taxes approved by voters) and the General Fund. Measures C and D require minimum contributions from the General Fund for tax collection. Only in the event of a "Severe and Unanticipated Financial Event" can this General Fund amount be reduced. Specific procedures and findings must take place before this reduction can occur. The report from the Finance Committee fails to address whether these steps were taken.
Failure to follow these requirements place the current and future OPL budgets in a precarious position. If these requirements were not met, under the provisions of Measures C and D, the parcel taxes (which represent 75% of the library's budget) cannot be collected. In that event, the library system would be decimated.
OPL is needed more than ever. It is one of very few spaces that are free and open to all. It offers more than just books, providing free tax help, literacy programs, health information, public safety (safe places for children and teens to go after school), meals, cooling and emergency/resilience hubs and so much more.
Please do not accept the Finance Committee Report as it now stands and ensure OPL funding now and in the future.
Helen Bloch
The supplemental report provided by the Finance Department does not answer the question of whether or not last year's Library GPF reduction was in compliance with Measures C & D. Some followup questions for Finance and City Admin:
1. Is the city experiencing a "Severe and Unanticipated Financial Event?" If so, why were multiple reports from your team *anticipating* future deficits & presented to City Council in 2021, 2022 and 2023 not considered when making this declaration?
2. Did the City Admin ever submit a report to City Council describing the steps taken to avoid the need to reduce the Library's GPF appropriation, or future steps that will be taken to restore it? If so, please provide a copy of any such report(s).
3. Are you sure the % reduction in the Library GPF appropriation is less than or equal to the % reduction in the net non-safety GPF? If so, please provide the following:
a. Total net non-safety GPF appropriation before & after the reduction
b. Total Library GPF appropriation before & after reduction.
c. Any definitions & calculations needed to reproduce the above numbers from publicly available data, or else the original dataset used to derive these numbers.
5. Is the City aware that continuing failure to either restore the full Library GPF appropriation or else demonstrate that all GPF reduction requirements of Measure C and D are met could result in catastrophic loss of up to 75% of Library funding? What is the city doing to mitigate this risk?
I'm writing as a concerned Oakland resident who cares deeply about our public libraries. The City's failure to meet the General Purpose Fund requirements set by Measures D and C puts over $40 million in parcel tax funding — and the future of our entire library system — at serious risk. The Finance Department’s delayed and insufficient response does not clearly show that the City is in compliance with these voter-approved measures. Until that compliance is verified, our libraries remain vulnerable. I urge the Life Enrichment Committee to demand transparency, accountability, and full funding for Oakland’s libraries.