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operate libraries independently from their <br />county library system belong to MELSA as <br />affiliates of their county library system. The <br />funding of libraries in MELSA may be from <br />a county levy, a city levy, a city library fund <br />from the general city levy or a combination. <br />Most libraries not only serve city residents, <br />but also serve people that reside outside of <br />city limits who, in some cases, are not fully <br />contributing to the upkeep, maintenance or <br />operations of the library through property <br />tax levies. While counties do contribute to <br />municipal libraries, this support falls well <br />short of the per capita amounts contributed <br />by city residents. <br />City officials support libraries and believe <br />that a system of equitably funded libraries is <br />needed. One approach that has been <br />previously approved by the Legislature is <br />providing for funding through regional tax <br />levies designated as "library districts." A <br />district would have the authority to levy for <br />public library services in lieu of their <br />member cities and counties. Under Minn. <br />Stat. § 134.201, the Great River Regional <br />Library System and the East Central <br />Regional Library System already have <br />authority to create "library districts." <br />Some cities also contribute a supplemental <br />amount of funding separate from MOE <br />requirements, usually to pay for building <br />maintenance costs. When the state calculates <br />the required MOE for each local unit of <br />government, it does not take into account the <br />money cities contribute to a library building <br />in their community. The MOE requirement <br />is a mandate on cities that does not allow for <br />local decision making. However, it provides <br />a stable source of funding to protect the <br />investment in library resources and services <br />around the state. There are some groups that <br />are advocating for a restoration of the MOE <br />to levels at least as high as the 2010 level. <br />Response: The League of Minnesota <br />Cities supports equitable funding for local <br />libraries to allow for local budget decision <br />making. Changes to the maintenance of <br />effort by the Legislature should be as <br />follows: <br />a) The required annual payment should <br />reflect the amount the city itself pays <br />toward maintenance, upkeep, and <br />capital improvements to the library in <br />that year. <br />b) If the MOE reduction in Minn. Stat. § <br />275.761 is restored to a level at least as <br />high as the 2010 level, it should be <br />phased in over three years. <br />c) Any relief provided to the county <br />MOE requirement should not result in <br />additional funding requirements to <br />cities. <br />The authority for library systems to <br />create library taxing districts should be <br />expanded statewide. <br />The Legislature should allow municipal <br />libraries the ability to charge non- <br />residents for membership and\or other <br />services without the loss of any State or <br />Federal aids. <br />FF -31. Equitable Funding of <br />Community Education Services <br />Issue: Under Minn. Stat. § 124D.20, school <br />districts are authorized to levy for <br />community education programs that can <br />include youth recreational activities. <br />However, state statute limits the total <br />amount of revenue that can be raised by the <br />school district to fund community education <br />programs and this limit has not been <br />sufficiently increased in recent years. In <br />many instances, cities participate in the <br />funding of these programs and with the <br />statutory limit on the amount school districts <br />can levy, the increased cost of these <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page 111 <br />