Libraries sidestep expected shortfall

The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, which began its last fiscal year expecting to fall short by nearly $3 million, ended the year more than $800,000 ahead, an audit of the 1998-99 budget shows.

An extra $1.1 million in unexpected tax revenue helped. But for the most part the library district balanced the budget by not spending funds that weren't central to the library's core mission, Daniel Walters, chief executive officer, said.

More than $1.5 million earmarked for property improvements was not spent and neither was $584,800 set aside for supplies and services.

The delayed improvements included facility renovations and repairs that did not constitute emergencies. Savings in supplies and services included holding off on computer purchases that weren't consistent with new standards, Walters said.

"The library district elected not to make major investments in new technology in light of Y2K," Walters said.

The budget was adopted under the interim management and developed without a CEO, Walters added. Walters was hired in September 1998.

"Basically I wanted to end the year with a positive situation as opposed to ending our budget with a negative one," he said.

The anticipated expenditures were $28 million. The district ended up spending $25.6 million. While $25.1 million in revenue had been anticipated, $26.4 million was actually received.

Members of the library district's audit committee received a draft of the audit and will discuss it at next month's meeting.

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