Like most government budgets, my town’s municipal budget is disorganized and conceals as much as it reveals. It is virtually impossible to answer simple questions like “How much of our annual budget is allocated to the library?” So no one truly knows the actual cost of our library or any other department. That’s an obvious funding problem.
Based on readily available info (library budget divided by the number of properties in the tax base), I’ve arrived at a “good enough” number to assess the money I will personally pay to fund my library in FY2010. I’ve also included the actual cost of a few other expenses:
| Expense | Per Month |
Per Year |
| Netflix (3-at-a-time subscription) | $17.84 | $214.08 |
| Cable TV (basic subscription) | $12.47 | $149.64 |
| Public Library | $7.86 | $94.32 |
| AAA Roadside Assistance | $6.58 | $79.00 |
Great comparison. People really don’t realize how little of their tax dollars go to public libraries.
Hi Jeff – I got the idea from one of the (many) insightful thoughts you shared during our conversation. Thanks!