Sonia Bebbington, Chief Librarian and CEO and Anna Basile, Division Manager, Corporate Services provided a presentation on the 2023 Draft Operating and Capital Budget Estimates and Four-Year Capital Forecast (held on file with the Chief Librarian and CEO). Ms. Bebbington was pleased to present the 2023 budget, based on the OPL Board-approved financial framework. The budget allocates funding to advance the Board's priorities by providing resources for community development, promoting the value of OPL, committing to public engagement on services, and investing in new technologies to increase community access. In addition to these important service initiatives, the budget provides for the improvement for the improvement or replacement of key assets that will be used to deliver library services and includes funding for the Riverside-South and Barrhaven branches. Ms. Bebbington provided an overall view of the Library's 2023 Draft budget, representing a net increase of $850K to the operating side, and a contribution of $1.56M to capital projects. She spoke to the Library's revenue expectation and investments by City partners in the maintenance or replacement of core building systems at a number of branch, of which, if approved will bring the total investment in operating funds, and $1.56M for capital projects. She aslo noted expected revenues and investments by City partners in branch infrastructure which, if approved, will bring the total investment in the library to $61.28M. Ms. Bebbington also highlighted the 2023 Operating Pressures and Full Time Equivalent (FTE) requests. She provided a high-level overview of the five permanent FTE requests: one new Manager, Public Services under Branch Services and four employees for Community Development and Client Experience, as well as the four temporary FTE requests for the Service Delivery Framework, staff scheduling, and facilities. Ms. Basile outlined the 2023 Draft Budget details and estimates. She provided details regarding the 2023 Operating Pressures which includes mandatory pressures and strategic items. She provided the Capital Overview by category and four-year capital plan for information. Ms. Basile concluded her presentation with information regarding the Reserve Funds, anticipated to be approximately $11M, and User Fees. Ms. Bebbington summarized the next steps in the 2023 Draft Budget timeline. In closing, the Chief Librarian and CEO highlighted that the budget as tabled was within the Council directed range, fulfills OPL's mandatory requirements and maintains current operations, provides funding for new initiatives, builds on the Board's desire to see increased focus on community development, responds to immediate human resources needs and positions the organization for future, fulfills maintenance obligations for Library assets, and provides funding for approved facilities growth initiatives.
Ms. Bebbington then opened the presentation to questions from trustees. Matthew Pritz, Program Manager, Finance and Business Services was also in attendance to respond to questions.
Chair Luloff reminded the Board that only questions of clarification could be posed to staff at this time. He commented that he was very impressed with the financial prudence of this organization as it demonstrates to the City of Ottawa that OPL acts with fiscal responsibility and is willing to be an active partners in addressing financial uncertainties on a global scale.
Trustee Smith thanked staff for a great presentation. He asked what assumptions went into the Draft 2023 budget based on the OPL Board-approved Financial Framework. Ms. Basile indicated that thorough Long-Range Financial Forecasting and Planning is critical to maximize the use of funds. She said real-time assessment is important in understanding the potential impacts, based on an identified set of assumptions, of large-scale financial choices.
There being no further discussion, the report was RECEIVED and TABLED as presented.
Note: The report was tabled at the meeting. Documentation was posted publicly upon commencement of item.
MOTION OPL 20230131/8
That the Ottawa Public Library Board:
- Receive and table the 2023 Draft Budget for the Ottawa Public Library and, the four-year capital forecast; and,
- Direct staff to forward the 2023 Draft Budget for the Ottawa Public Library to Ottawa City Council on February 1, 2023 as part of City Council's tabling of the City of Ottawa 2023 Draft Operating and Capital budget.
Results: Received and tabled