Library director says rising utilities and low pay for front‑line posts drove use of salary savings

Susan Dry, assistant director for administrative services at Nashville Public Library, told the Budget & Finance working group the library relied on salary savings in fiscal year 2023 and 2024 largely because of higher utility costs, a tight maintenance budget and recruiting challenges for low‑paid frontline roles.

Dry said the library averaged roughly the mid‑40s in vacancies during fiscal year 2023 and had reduced that number by the end of fiscal year 2024. She told the committee that most vacancies were full‑time positions, with a smaller number of part‑time roles. The library cited difficulty filling building maintenance mechanic positions, security guards and circulation assistants—roles that department leaders said are hard to recruit at the wages available and yet are essential to staffing 21 facilities across the county.

Committee members asked whether the library had considered hiring fewer workers at higher pay; Dry said the department needs sufficient staff in each branch to operate when scheduled and that reducing headcount would leave branches unable to open or to provide services. Dry also told the working group the library uses its operating availability to preserve the CSP 4% maintenance funds for future needs, and she described that as a long‑standing local practice: when operating funds are available and vacancies create salary savings, departments sometimes choose to spend operating dollars on immediate maintenance needs to preserve dedicated 4% funds that roll forward.

Dry said the library planned to request budgeted funding for security guard services in the coming budget, and that filling positions fully would shift some pressures into the operating budget where, if not funded, the library would need supplemental appropriation to maintain the same level of service.