Sayad calls for library to separate from Des Plaines

Former Des Plaines alderman and mayoral candidate Dick Sayad said this week he will circulate petitions asking residents to support having a separate library district.

Sayad said the move is prompted by the city's current financial woes.

The city's proposed 2010 operating fund budget shows a more than $2 million projected shortfall. Officials have said they will scale back services and shrink the work force to cut costs.

Funding for the Des Plaines Library comes from the city's general fund as there is no separate library tax levy.

Sayad, who could not run for re-election in 2007 because of the city's term-limit law, argues the city council has no control over the library's yearly budget - $7.2 million in 2009 - which is approved independently by the city-appointed library board.

Earlier this year, city leaders urged the library board to cut expenses such as staff travel to conferences and pay raises from next year's budget in light of financial constraints.

Sayad said his goal is to have an elected library board with its own tax levy that is accountable to taxpayers for its spending.

"Let the people (decide) who they want to be on that board," Sayad said.

Library board President Noreen Lake said it's not the first time this idea has been floated and Sayad himself proposed it during his eight years as 4th Ward alderman.

But the reasons for not doing it are the same today as they were then, she added.

"If we go to a district and become elected officials, it will cost the city anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 a year (more)," just to keep the library operating the same as today, Lake said.

"I don't think that (residents are) going to like that they have to pay that much more for the same service that we're getting," she said.

Lake said the library presently uses a lot of city resources. The city issues the library's checks and does payroll, and the city attorney also answers minor legal questions that may arise, Lake said.

The library has 44 full-time employees, and 76 part-time staffers. The library has 5.4 fewer employees than in 2008 because vacant positions were not filled, officials said.

For next year, library officials are considering curbing travel expenses and going to merit-based pay raises.

"We've been doing it this way for 100 years so it must be working," Lake said.

As for accountability, she said, "we serve at the pleasure of the mayor until we're reappointed."