The Sumter County Commission has voted to outsource the county’s public library services, despite facing a standing-room only crowd largely opposed to the move.
The 1-hour and 45-minute public comment session Tuesday evening at Colony Cottage Recreation Center was often rancorous with Commission Chairman Doug Gilpin more than once threatening to clear the room.
All but one of the commissioners voted in favor of the plan. The lone dissenter was Commissioner Don Burgess.
The motion to privatize was made by Commission Don Hahnfeldt and seconded by fellow Commissioner Al Butler.
The commission will contract for nearly $2 million for the first year with Library Systems & Services, Inc. of Maryland. The board also voted to reduce the library staff and provide severance packages. Current employees can seek employment with LSSI.
Here in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown, the impacted libraries are the Villages Public Library at Pinellas Plaza and the Villages Public Library at Belvedere. All libraries in Sumter County will be impacted.
Many of those opposing the plan questioned why the commission was “rushing” into the action. They also expressed concern that privatization would ultimately hurt the quality of library services. Many said current library staff would be the first victims.
“People take profit out of a company,” said Villager Joseph Flynn. “So people will be the first to go.”
Villager Lawrence Shipley argued that LSSI will take precious tax dollars out of Sumter County.
“They make a 21 percent profit margin,” Shipley said. “Of that $2 million contract, we’d be lucky to see one and a half million dollars stay in Sumter County. That is $500,000 not being spent in Sumter County.”
There were a handful that praised the commissioners for their foresight over the years in putting Sumter County on the path to success. One of those was businessman Terry Yoder.
“The commission has done right by Sumter County,” he said. “We should believe in them now.”