Richard M. Hetzer: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: SchaumburgWebsite: Candidate did not respond.Office sought: Schaumburg Township libraryAge: 69Family: Widowed - Three daughters - Six grandchildrenOccupation: Retired Executive Vice President - Finance Industry Series 6 63 Registered Secutities Representative Former Bank Vice President - Department ManagerEducation: Bachelor of Science in Public Administration - LaSalle University 1994Graduate, Standard Pre-Standard Certificates in Commercial Banking - American Institute of Banking 1969Civic involvement: Director - Citizens Utility Board - IllinoisVolunteer - St. Alexius Hospital, Hoffman Estates, IllinoisIllinois Delegate to the White House Conference on Library Information Services (1991) Past president Woods Homeowners AssociationPast president Muscular Dystrophy Association Chicago NorthEastern Illinois ChapterFormer Member Board of Governors - City Club of ChicagoElected offices held: Trustee - Township of Schaumburg 8 years 1980'sTrustee - Schaumburg Township District Library 2005-2007 (Resigned due to wife's life threatening critical illness)Have you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NOCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The Library needs professional financial management of its fourteen million dollar budget. The finances of the Library are running awry of good fiscal management. There is over two million dollars of waste in the Library finances.Key Issue 2 The Library Cafe` lease. I do not believe any government I am aware of has given a ten year lease including all amenities to a lesee at a rate that is over 200% percent less than the going lease rates for cafe`s in the vacinity of the Library with no exit clause for the lessor. The agreement was totally, ethically wrong.Key Issue 3 The Library has one volunteer. Most peer Libraries have at least 150 to 220 volunteers. This practice of the Schaumburg Library is costing the schaumburg Library over one million five hundred and fifty thousand dollars each year, more than enough to cover the amount the current Library board expected to raise from its prospective TAX REFERANDUM.Questions Answers Describe your understanding of the library district's long-term financial condition and whether you believe any changes should be made.The long term financial condition of the library can easily be met by proper budgeting over the next several years. I proposed setting up reserve funds to cover the future costs of repairs to the library during my first years on the board, however, the board rejected many of my suggestions. Adding volunteers will provide additional funds to the library which wil more than cover future repairs and up grades as suggested in the boards 2009 engineering study they commissioned. In addition an annual fee should be charged for ""Reciprocal Borrower"" cards (those persons living outside the library district who do not pay real estate taxes to support the library). There are over 30,000 reciprocal borrowing cards outstanding nearly 25% of all library cards issued by Schaumburg Library. A new full time position of Chief Financial Officer - CPA should be established with the CFO reporting to the Board of Trustees, supervised by the Executive Director.Do you favor or foresee a tax hike for the district in the next four years?NO - I do not favor or forsee any need for a tax hike in this district in the next four or more years. I was the only candidate for the Schaumburg Library Board who stated there was no need for a real estate tax referandum. The current special real estate tax should be allowed to be retired.How is the district handling the balance between revenues raised and services provided?Poorly, Past due fines are approximately $92,000. The libray has no idea how many fines it is losing on Senior cards. The library is losing over $90,000 anually on its ""Programs"". The Library gave its Executive Director a $15,000 stipend in addition to her $155,000 (including perks)salary, simply for her doing her job. The Library is losing several thousands of dollars anually as a result of its underpricing of its books materials at its bi-monthly Book Sales. The Library is lossing several thousands of dollars by not selling ads in its bi-monthly news letters and at its summer outside concerts. It is the only local government that mails a newsletter 6 times a year instead of 3 or 4 times a year at a cost to taxpayers of over $30,000.What adaptations do you feel the district should make to its services to be useful and relevant to patrons in the future?It should continue to be up to date with the latest innovations in accordance with the key objectives of Libraries. It should work toward the implementation of ""RFID"" Radio Frequency Identification of all of its materials in the near future. Oak park Library has done so and the Lee County Library System in Fort Myers, Florida among others have done an excellent job in implimenting ""RFID"" saving staff costs and making thier materials available in a much shorter period of time than the Schaumburg Library. The Library should institute a full time Chief Financial Officer - CPA knowledgeable in Library finances as a full time staff person answering to the Board of Trustees and supervised by the Executive Director.Should the district strive to be a leader in the field of library science or look for cost-effectiveness by staying in step with the pace of other districts' development?The Library should concentrate first on the needs of its residents - tax payers,in the field of Library and Information Services. Second on its finances and lastly on being a leader in its field.