Proposed Budget Cuts in Seattle, Denver Are Partly Restored
Salinas, Fresno budgets victim of state economic woes
Lynn Blumenstein -- Library Journal, 11/13/2009
- Seattle city council restores library hours
- Denver branch safe for another year
- Dwindling sales tax revenue affects Salinas
Several public libraries are receiving budget adjustments that help or hurt. Below are updates on several library systems facing difficult decisions, some with improved outcomes.
Seattle budget cut restored
The Seattle City Council has restored $863,000 to the Seattle Public Library (SPL), according to the Seattle Times, with the result that seven-day service at 11 out of 26 branches plus the central library will be preserved.
When Seattle mayor Greg Nickels proposed the city’s 2010 budget September 25, SPL was due to lose five percent, or about $2.6 million. In response, SPL planned to reduce operating hours, close systemwide for one week, and extend the computer replacement cycle from four to five years, among other administrative decisions.
Denver branch back
Denver mayor John Hickenlooper has restored $910,000 to Denver Public Library’s proposed 2010 budget. These funds will be used for operating costs at the Byers Branch for one more year. Hickenlooper proposed closing that branch, according to the Denver Post. The funds also will allow for restoration of hours at five other branches.
Fresno County to cut service days
Fresno County Library (FCL), CA, is dealing with reduced county revenues, a result of the state’s fiscal woes. To deal with mandated employee work furloughs, whereby employees must reduce their work time and salary by 40 hours, FCL will close all locations an additional four days through February 8, according to the Fresno Bee.
Three out of four days will precede holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. One remaining furlough day remains to be scheduled.
Salinas, CA, could lose ten percent of budget
Salinas Public Library, CA, which narrowly avoided closure in 2004, may be operating with $400,000 less next fiscal year, which begins July 2010. The city expects a $9.1 million budget shortfall, according to the Californian. The cut is ten percent of the library system’s budget.
Director Elizabeth Martinez told the newspaper she would consider closing the library on Fridays, if necessary. Since the library is entirely funded by Measure V sales tax proceeds, any library cuts would have to be approved by the Measure V oversight committee.
Kalamazoo to end bookmobile service
The Kalamazoo Public Library (KPL), MI, will end its bookmobile service by next June 30, the end of the current fiscal year. By taking this action, KPL will save $195,000 out of the $550,000 it needs to cut from its current budget, according to the Kalamazoo Gazette.
KPL, which derives 92 percent of its budget from property taxes, anticipates a five percent drop in those revenues. KPL began bookmobile service in 1956 and bought a new bookmobile in 2000. KPL determined that less than three percent of its total circulation comes from bookmobile visits.
Irondequoit, NY, budget gains
On a smaller scale, the two-branch Irondequoit Public Library (IPL), near Rochester, NY, stands to see an additional nine percent in next year’s budget. A member of the Monroe County Library System but funded locally, IPL’s budget is expected to increase from $1.7 million to $1.85 million, according to local media. IPL asked for $2 million. The budget vote is set for November 17.
