Budget Cuts Could Leave Library in a Bind

[U8Coach]

The funding issues for the library do not stem from Tewksbury:


"With state revenues hammered by the stumbling economy, Governor Deval Patrick has proposed $21.14 million for state library programs in the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. That's down from from about $25 million approved for fiscal 2010 and $34.1 million in fiscal 2009. At the same time, library supporters say demand for products and services has risen in each of the past 10 years. The House and Senate have yet to unveil their budget proposals." - Boston Globe 03-09-2010

Library funding has been cut 38% in two years by the state. Our hands are tied.

[amykay]

U8, out of a total annual library budget of under $1million, state aid amounts to less than $30,000. if memory serves. Towns provide libraries with their operating budgets, with a small amount of assistance from the state.

[U8Coach]

The library budget is projected at $900,000.00.

$30,000.00 represents 3% of the library budget. If the Library had been funded by the state at the skimpy FY2009 level we would have received an additional $18-$20,000.00 each of the past two years (by the state math although actual funding may be different) and would therefore have been enough money to cover any increased human resource costs (one would hope).

Just out of curiosity, and I mean this sincerely, have the Trustees gone to their employees and asked for any relief from the contracts? I know that the town does not usually have much success in this type of negotiation but the question needs to be asked regardless. It is possible that some of the union members may want to keep their jobs rather than see the lucky ones to remain in FY11 get raises.

Lastly, and this is simply the unfortunate truth about government:

If the state cares so little about Libraries that from a $28.2 BILLION dollar budget it provides a mere $21.14 Million to the libraries, how can we expect the local government to prioritize our own library? BTW - The library funding of $21.14 mil represents 0.075% of the total state budget. That is less than one-tenth of one percent. For every $1,000,000.00 (MILLION) the state spends, libraries receive $750.00.

Could you imagine spending $1 Million dollars and then tossing the library a paltry $750.00?

Well no need to imagine, the state does it for real every year.

[amykay]

You should ask your question of a trustee, but I believe they do not have negotiating authority with the employees and the unions they are members of. Those negotiations are performed by the town manager. Further, I am told state aid last year was $15k and change. Considering the annual library budget is a bit over 1% of the annual town budget, I think we get quite a lot out of that investment, hundreds of people visit the library each day, there are many programs offered for adults and children, internet usage, Wifi, meetings, tutoring sessions, inter library loan, not bad considering the staffing has been cut as well as the hours of operation during the past few budget seasons.

[tackleberry]

: Budget Cuts Could Leave Library in a Bind

[reginas]

Unions don't care about the little guy.

They take hundreds of millions of dollars of your dues and give it to lobbyists and political campaigns.

Unions care about power - and keeping it.

[U8Coach]

Tack, I never said the unions were to blame for the situation at the library.

All I asked was whether or not anyone had approached them about making a concession with their contract in order to keep the library open and save everyone's job.

I do not think that it is an unreasonable question in light of 10% unemployment and major reductions in hours and pay for those who have been able to keep their jobs.

[tackleberry]

: Budget Cuts Could Leave Library in a Bind