Bill would redirect some property taxes to keep libraries afloat

THE CITY HALL struggle over library funding turned to a new chapter yesterday when Councilman Bill Green proposed asking voters if they want to dedicate some property taxes for the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Property taxes now are split, with 60 percent going to the school district and 40 percent to the city. Green's proposal would take 4 percent of the city's share and redirect it to the libraries, if approved in a referendum.

That would dedicate $33.5 million per year to the libraries. Green said that that matches up with what the city now spends each year on the libraries.

"It prevents the libraries from continuing to be a whipping boy every time there is a budget crisis," said Green, who tangled with Mayor Nutter late last year over a plan to close 11 library branches.

A judge ruled in Green's favor when he and other library advocates challenged the way that Nutter tried to close the branches.

Nutter said yesterday that the city's elected officials should make budget decisions themselves, not by referendums.

"I think that at this time, given our financial situation, this would be a tremendously irresponsible action," Nutter said. "I think the councilman has gotten all the public-relations [benefit] he's going to get out of the libraries."

Council leaders had serious doubts about Green's proposal, based on a 1961 state law discovered by his staff that allows dedicated funding for libraries. Five of Green's 16 colleagues co-sponsored the legislation yesterday.

Democratic Majority Leader Marian Tasco warned, however, that it is "a little dangerous" to let Council members dedicate funding to specific agencies.

"I'm not sure that selecting any one department over another would be the right thing to do," Tasco said. "While we all love the Free Library, I love something else. Each Council person has their own pet department."

Republican minority leader Brian O'Neill agreed that the proposal could lead Council members to try to dedicate some or all of the city budget for departments.

"It isn't that the libraries aren't a good cause," O'Neill said. "It's that there are a whole lot of good causes in the city. I don't know where you stop." *