This is opinion and commentary.
In the span of just eight days, the City of Williamsburg announced and is set to vote on a new operating contract for the Williamsburg Regional Library system, a joint system of Williamsburg, James City County, and York County. The boards of the other jurisdictions are expected to consider the agreement in the coming weeks. Despite the rush, the proposed agreement can only be seen as a temporary bridge until two planned libraries open just miles apart, one in downtown Williamsburg and the other at the new government center in James City County. The proposed 5-year agreement would allow any of the localities to terminate its participation as early as June 30, 2030 through a two-year notice provision, which is right about time the new libraries are expected to come online.
James City County currently covers the bulk of the regional library system’s costs, and under the proposed agreement, it would continue to cover roughly three-quarters of the system’s local funding, for now. But previously, the County had refused to contribute to building the new downtown library (no matter to Williamsburg!) and the temporary nature of the new operating agreement only serves to reinforce their waning interest in subsidizing other localities. For its part, York County forced the renegotiated contract and a new funding formula. They clearly have one foot out the door and are poised to build their own new library in the northern part of the county to serve residents who are most likely to use the Williamsburg library system.
The most ridiculous aspect of the new operating agreement is also the most telling. Apparently, one of the negotiating points was adding the word “Greater” to the system’s name. That seems petty and irrelevant when tens of millions of dollars are being spent to build new facilities and millions of dollars are at stake in terms of operating the system. But the change doesn’t come free, as the proposed contract specifies methods to pay for the name to be changed in various places as necessary.
James City is in a much better financial position to operate their own libraries than Williamsburg; York County already operates its own independent system. Both have the capability to build additional facilities and reason to reduce future commitments to neighbors. Indeed, the proposed contract signals that plan for both York and James City counties. As a result, Williamsburg’s costs to operate the new library will likely go up significantly. But the City doesn’t seem to have a plan for that.
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This is simply false. There, I’ve clicked “unfollow.”