Amy Long, director of the Sheridan County Library, appeared before the board June 16 to report she had prepared budget changes that both meet the board’s request and an alternative that would prioritize one-time capital needs and modest pay-grade increases.

Long said she can achieve the 8% reduction the board requested but warned of strategic risks if the $160,000 GPET (1¢) revenue is not available in future years. She said the library currently uses that revenue for repairs to HVAC, elevator maintenance and snow removal, but that the elevator vendor told library staff several parts are no longer manufactured and the next failure would require modernization.

As an alternative to the 8% cut, Long handed out an “alternative” summary showing how the library could place the $160,000 GPET amount into cash reserves and instead raise entry-level staff wages (bringing those making under $16 up to $16), raise librarian-range positions to $19 an hour, and move five supervisors into a $25 hourly band. Long said this approach would use one-time funds for capital projects and set three simple pay grades (16/19/25) to better withstand multi-year revenue uncertainty.

Commissioners asked questions about allowable uses of the 1¢ fund and whether the library’s plan would change their required 8% reduction; Long said she was prepared to proceed with the requested 8% cuts but offered the alternative as a strategic option.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to include the library’s updated figures in revised option sheets for further review.