by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The City Council’s Finance Committee continued discussions Tuesday on a bill allowing the transfer of surplus funds from various library projects to others experiencing multi-million-dollar shortfalls.
The proposed ordinance has served as a point of contention since being introduced late last year, though urgency served as the theme Tuesday as it was revealed University Park Branch Library in Arlington was within weeks of running out of funds.
According to Better Jacksonville Plan project manager Rex Holmlin, without some sort of Council action, a construction halt and subsequent demobilization costs would be difficult to avoid.
“That would be a pretty big chunk of change,” said Holmlin, “certainly hundreds of thousands of dollars. The funds will be gone in a few weeks.”
Holmlin said an additional $3 million would be needed to finance the remaining construction and library material costs.
Council member Lake Ray, whose district borders the University Boulevard location, wanted to know why the funding shortage hadn’t been explained more clearly.
“I had not been told and, as far as we knew, everything was moving along on schedule. That was what (former library director Kenneth Sivulich) told me in September,” he said. “I hadn’t even been informed that the project was two phases.
“There was no warning and I was completely surprised to hear about any shortfalls or delays.
“We’re just getting a little tired of either being told our questions will be answered privately or basically not at all,” said Council member Jerry Holland. “We hate being buffered while people keep going back and forth to find out what’s going on.
“Why isn’t the Library Board or the director here?”
Despite Council frustrations, Holmlin maintained a funding shift had been a consideration from the beginning.
“We’ve always had enough money to complete all 19 branches,” said Holmlin, “it’s just been in the wrong places. I don’t believe anyone has been misinformed, because we believed their completion would be predicated by budgetary realignment.”
Holmlin said surplus capital totaling approximately $1.3 million would still be left over, providing the bill passes and a library contingency fund is established.
“That’s after we complete those projects that are outlined in the Better Jacksonville Plan,” he said. “We’re still leaving a lot left over, but it provides money for any potential shortfalls.”
Not prepared to recommend approval for the bill, but wanting to avoid demobilization costs at University Park, a substitute amendment was offered by Ray to allow for the transfer of funds from an under-budget Western Regional Branch Library project.
According to a report from the Council’s Auditor’s Office, roughly $2.2 million is available for transfer.
“If we can move enough money to continue construction at the University Park Branch so we can keep those contractors there working,” said Ray, “then that’s what we’ll have to do while we continue our discussions on the entire bill.”
The committee passed the amendment unanimously.
The bill is expected to return to the committee in two weeks and, according to representatives from Mayor John Peyton’s office, “someone” from the library would there.