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July 19, 2006
The Dumchurch Letter 19 July
To Mrs Sideloader
Dear Chrysanthemum
I was shown the budget for the current year for the 12 libraries of Dumchester and I looked at the way they had spent their budget last year.
First of all I wrote down last year's figures (for 2005-6)
All the figures are in thousands of pounds
Funding of the service
Revenue funds from the council 5,177
Income from readers (DVD loans, fines etc) 440
Total 5,617 (ie £5.6m)
That is all the money and the cost of other resources provided by taxpayers, from whatever source, earmarked by the council for the public library service
Use of funds: that money was spent on
Cost of employees 2,983
Occupying premises - heat, light, rates etc (but no rents) 546
"Materials" viz books, DVD's, playstations, bindings and labels 528
Computing services: inc use of council systems, software licenses 381
"Other services" - office and library operating costs 205
Transport - A vehicle etc 31
Council support charge - A share of the council overhead 433
Capital Charges- Equivalent of rents for council owned buildings 510
Total 5,617
So if those were written as percentages they would be
Employees- 2,983 (53.1%)
Premises costs- 546 (9.7%)
Materials- 528 (9.4%)
Computing - 381 (6.7%)
Other services- 205 (3.6%)
Transport - 31 (0.5%)
Council Support - 433 (7.7%)
Capital Charges- 510 (9.1%)
Total 5,617 (100.0%)
Of the materials fund about two thirds was spent on books; So the book expenditure in 2005-6 was £362,000 which represents just 6.4% of the resources and funds that taxpayers have paid for the service.
Against these figures, in preparing next year's budget clearly one would look to see how these funds were prioritised in order to give service to the public and how that service could be improved.
One would look to make sure that all expenditure that did not give value to the public or gave less value, should be reduced, gradually.
Perkins is not enjoying the heat, but he is well
Grimsdyke.
Posted by Tim Coates at July 19, 2006 9:34 AM