NWRL Board members are currently visiting County Commissioners and City Councils with the 2013 preliminary library budgets. Unlike city or county departments that work with their respective administrations to plan budgets, the NWRL Joint Powers Agreement gives this responsibility to the NWRL Board. Since NWRL Board members are appointed by cities/counties to represent them on the 15 member Board, this only makes sense. The NWRL Board represents five counties, seven cities and two communities with Link sites.

In the meantime, the State of Minnesota distributes funding through 12 regional public libraries to assist in the cost of providing library services to the public. NWRL is one of the 12. Regional libraries are not eligible to receive State funding unless cities/counties pay a mandated "Maintenance of Effort" for library services. The reason for this requirement is that State funds are designed to supplement, not replace local library funding "efforts." Therefore, the State requires cities/counties to "maintain a financial effort" (Maintenance of Effort) in order for NWRL to be eligible for State funds. The State certifies this amount annually and distributes it to cities/counties.

Why there is both a mandated "Maintenance of Effort" and a NWRL preliminary library budget is confusing to many. This is the difference: Maintenance of Effort does not reflect the actual cost of providing library services. Instead, It is based on a percentage of adjusted net tax capacity so that all cities/counties in Minnesota pay the same "fair share" for library services. The budget presented by the NWRL Board is based on the actual costs of providing library services. When cities/counties pay the certified amount required in Maintenance of Effort instead of actual costs, NWRL Board members must plan for reductions in services accordingly.

Another confusing piece is why NWRL is even involved in local library budgets. When regional libraries were formed in the 1960's, cities and counties joined a region to enhance local library services. NWRL was formed as a consolidated regional system to provide library services to the public through seven Branch libraries and a Bookmobile. The NWRL Board is the legal entity for NWRL. The responsibilities of the Board are set forth in a Joint Powers Agreement that was signed by all cities/counties receiving library services in the region.

Over the years, local Library Friends, local Advisory Library Boards and citizens have become very active in raising funds to offset reductions in library services. In 2012, this funding offset reductions in four of the seven NWRL Branch Libraries. The efforts of these caring citizens are deeply appreciated by the NWRL Board, as is the funding provided by Boards of Commissioners and City Councils.

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