Proposed library plan reduces county funding

Five of the six local libraries in Oconto County would receive reduced library aid in 2025 under the formula contained in the revised five-year library plan coming before the county board in September. The special Library Planning Committee has scheduled three public hearings to present the plan and receive input — 5 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Gillett Community Center next to the library, 200 E. Main St., Gillett; 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Little Suamico Town Hall, 5964 County Road S, Sobieski; and 5 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Lakes Country Public Library, 15235 State Highway 32, Lakewood. State law requires counties to update their library services plan every five years, and former county administrator Erik Pritzl appointed the special study committee early in 2023 because funding costs had become unbalanced between communities that are served by a local library and those that are not. The law also requires counties to provide local libraries with a minimum of 70% of the amount determined by dividing each library’s operational expenses by the total number of loans reported, not including capital expenditures or federal funding. The committee found that the libraries in Oconto Falls, Gillett, Suring, Lena and Lakewood have been getting more than the minimum, while Farnsworth Public Library in Oconto was under that amount. The county also pays Brown County — and to a lesser extent, other neighboring counties — for services used by residents of the 11 municipalities that are not directly served by the six local libraries. In 2024 the county budgeted $457,035 to support the six local libraries and $157,048 to other counties. The proposed 2025 allocations have been adjusted to ensure compliance with the statutory minimum, according to a fact sheet prepared by the committee. The result is a reduction in the allocation for Oconto Falls ($15,623), Lakes Country ($10,344), Gillett ($7,803), Suring ($6,261) and Lena ($5,534), and an increase of $9,857 for Oconto. The final five-year plan is expected to reach the full Oconto County Board for approval when it meets Sept. 19. An annual review is built into the plan to avoid the funding imbalances that led to the need for an extended study. wbluhm@newmedia-wi.com