Corzine called upon to save boro library Boro, state officials hope Gov will change budget restriction BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer Jamesburg officials' efforts to bring attention to their library conundrum seem to be paying off. State Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-14) and Assemblyman Bill Baroni (R-14) have been working to get Gov. Jon Corzine to take action to save the Jamesburg Public Library. "We've pretty much put Jamesburg in their face," Greenstein said. "It looks like they're actually moving ahead, and I have to say, I think it has a lot to do with the Jamesburg situation." A state-imposed 4-percent cap on municipal spending increases that will take effect next year is putting borough officials' backs to the wall. The cap is an issue for small towns like Jamesburg, whose budgets are much smaller than those of larger municipalities. State law says that the town must give the library one-third of a mill per $100 of assessed value in town. Due to the rising value of homes in town over the past decade, that formula has forced the town to increase its library expenditures by about 15 percent per year. This year, the library is operating on about $170,000 in municipal funds. According to Councilman Otto Kostbar, that number will probably go up about $27,000 next year. The areas where budget cuts could feasibly be made are in the police department, public works, garbage pickup, recreation and the library. With officials not wishing to make cuts in departments that are integral to the town's operations, they see no place to turn but to the library. On Monday, Greenstein called on Corzine and his administration to come up with a plan that will ensure the library's survival, along with those of other municipalities. "With time running short and the Jamesburg Public Library hanging in the balance, charting a course for the library's survival is of vital importance," Greenstein said. "Jamesburg's public library has been a focal point for the community for more than 75 years, and is a point of pride for all borough residents. Gov. Corzine and his administration must grasp this opportunity to ensure the library's survival." Although the state Legislature did not pass a bipartisan bill that would have exempted municipal public libraries from the budget cap, Greenstein said she is confident the governor and his people are looking at the issue more seriously now. "It's sort of on the front burner again," Greenstein said. "They discussed the fact that we needed a long-term legislative solution. They're still talking, so that's major progress." The governor's press office did not return a phone call from the Sentinel seeking comment on the issue. On Tuesday afternoon, Greenstein met with the governor's council, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities and the State Library Association to discuss what can be done. Greenstein said she has received assurances from high-ranking officials in the governor's office that Jamesburg's plight, among others, will receive the administration's full attention. According to Greenstein, libraries in 244 other municipalities are facing similar issues. Mayor Anthony LaMantia and other borough officials have been in communication with the governor and state legislators in attempts to eke out a solution that will work for the town, with little headway. "They've been talking about working on it for the past four or five months, and I haven't heard hide nor hair from them," LaMantia said. "I don't know if [Corzine] really understands the severity of this for us." At a council meeting June 13, officials told residents about a referendum they were planning that would allow voters to decide if the library should close. A second question would ask if residents would like the town to have an association library, which is run on discretionary council funding and fundraising. The only way the town could legally eliminate the public library is through a referendum. LaMantia said the town has kept its budget lean over the years, and the effects of the cap seem like a punishment for that. "If we would have padded our budgets, we would have had no problems, but we don't do things like that," LaMantia said. At a press conference in Jamesburg yesterday morning, both Greenstein and Baroni came out to show their support. Though residents already had petitions circulating, the legislators mobilized them to go forth with a full-blown petition drive. The issue is especially time-sensitive to Jamesburg because it has already begun working on the 2008 budget, Greenstein said. Within the next two weeks, state legislators will be examining a possible waiver process to deal with the situation. "They're really paralyzed until they know what's going on with the library," Greenstein said. "It is my hope that once the governor and other officials see how dire Jamesburg's situation is, they will step in to help preserve this cornerstone of the community and the many more like it across New Jersey."