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Cultural/Leisure Services <br />Service Issues and Accomplishments: <br />1. The most critical service issue facing the Library is the need for a stable funding. source to <br />support Library operations when the current levy expires in FY07. The current levy started in <br />FY04 and expires at the end of FY07. For FY06, the General Fund contributes 47.8% of the <br />Library's operating budget with levy funds providing 51.6% and special funds and grants <br />providing the remaining 0.6 percent. <br />2. Increased service to the public was the major accomplishment for the Library in the last year. <br />There was increased convenience through self-service stations and e-mail notifications which <br />resulted in record-breaking circulation of 2.16 million items in FY05. Eight-two thousand new <br />books, audio books, CD's, DVD's, videos and other items were added to the collection. <br />Weekend and evening hours were expanded with free parking during these new hours. All of <br />these service enhancements and many more resulted in a 14% increase in Library visits in <br />FY05. <br />3. In the fall of 2002, Eugene citizens passed afour-year local option levy (20-67) to fund <br />youth/school based activities. In FY06, approximately 93% of the funds go to the Eugene and <br />Bethel school districts to pay for several types of activities and services, which include school <br />nurses, counselors, librarians, athletics, elementary music, physical. education and other student <br />activities. The remaining funds have been allocated for city-wide youth recreation services <br />provided through the City of Eugene Recreation Division such as the Summer Fun for All <br />program and out of school recreation and fitness programs for middle school youth. Funds for <br />this levy will expire in 2007 and sustainable funding to support development and prevention <br />services will be pursued. <br />4. 2005 was a productive year for Recreation Services. A $270,000 grant was awarded to <br />provide fitness and health activities to eight middle schools. Renovations to Echo Hollow Pool, <br />including the addition of a large meeting/activity room and spa were completed. Scholarships <br />to low-income community members were increased by $50,000. Aquatics fees were reduced to <br />20041evels in an effort to make services more affordable. Finally, Recreation Services was <br />selected, along with four other Lane County youth agencies, as one of 18 nation-wide intensive <br />sites by the National Institutes for Health. The main goal of this partnership is to increase <br />activity levels, improve nutrition, and reduce "screen time" for youth and their parents. <br />5. The existing business model for the Cultural Services Division is not fully supported by <br />existing revenue sources with the reserves projected to be eliminated in the next several years. <br />Finding sustainable funding is a critical need and, with that in mind, a Cultural Plan Review <br />(CPR) was initiated. <br />6. Cultural Services, which operates the Hult Center for the Performing Arts and the Cuthbert <br />Amphitheater, is an economic engine for the greater Eugene area. Over the last seven years, for <br />every dollar of Transient Room Tax (TRT) spent on Cultural Services operations, $5 was <br />returned back into the local economy. <br />72 <br />