Saint Paul Library Board reviews 2026 budget proposal; hours cut at Arlington Hills

The Saint Paul Library Board on Aug. 6 heard a presentation of the Saint Paul Public Library’s proposed 2026 budget from Director Maureen Hartman, who outlined reductions to staffing and materials spending, one-time special-fund moves for safety and interim space costs, and capital investments for future projects.

Hartman told the board the proposal eliminates 1.3 full-time equivalent positions (FTE) across the system and repurposes one FTE in operations. She said the single largest service impact of those reductions is a planned 0.8 FTE vacancy in public services that, if not restored, will require reducing Arlington Hills Library’s public hours by four per week. “We identified that the busiest times at the Arlington Hills libraries are in the afternoon and the evening and the mornings that they have story time,” Hartman said. “This proposal reduces their hours by four a week. Two days a week, they will open up at noon instead of 10.”

Nut graf: The presentation framed the cuts as part of a citywide directive to departments to identify proportional reductions to the general fund; the library’s proposal mixes permanent staffing changes, one-time special-fund uses and capital requests, and includes steps the department says are intended to limit disruptions to core services while preserving ongoing safety investments.

Most important details

- Staffing and hours: The budget reduces 1.3 FTE total. The 0.8 FTE tied to public services is shown by staff as equal to about $87,000 and is the basis for shortening Arlington Hills’ weekday opening two days a week from 10 a.m. to noon. Hartman said other reductions — higher attrition assumptions and a trimmed substitute-staffing budget — would reduce flexibility to cover absences and could lead to slower hiring or holding vacancies longer.

- Library materials and friends’ support: The proposal reduces the library materials line in the general fund. Hartman said the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library have committed to supplement some cuts: the Friends will provide $40,000 toward a proposed $65,000 reduction in materials, and separately the Friends will fund a $20,000 rebate program commitment for 2026 only.

- Rondo temporary relocation and safety costs: Hartman said the library will lease temporary space at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center to continue services while the Rondo Community Library undergoes interior renovations. The department identified contracted security (listed in the presentation as $90,000) for the current Rondo site while it is closed. Hartman also described safety purchases supported by opioid-settlement funds (for example, Narcan and supplies) and ongoing investments such as vapor monitors and automatic door locking installations.

- Capital projects and gaps: The proposed capital budget includes $3,550,000 for Hayden Heights in 2027 and $784,000 for Riverview in the CIB (Capital Improvement Budget). Hartman said Riverview still has a funding gap; the department’s estimate (expressed in 2025 dollars) for the project’s full cost is not final and was described as subject to change.

- Library safety strategy: Hartman reported the system has six library safety specialists and one safety manager; the safety manager position has been moved onto the general fund while the specialists continue on special funds. She said reported incidents were on track for a 40% reduction compared with 2024, which the department credited to the safety specialists and manager and added that restorative practices for staff and patrons would roll out in 2026.

Board discussion and follow-ups

Board members and council members on the board pressed for clarifications about data used to select Arlington Hills for reduced hours (Hartman said she reviewed circulation and visit counts by hour and consulted staff), the duration and one-time nature of special-fund commitments, and the long-term sustainability of safety positions now supported by one-time funds. Several members—particularly those representing East Side wards—expressed opposition to the Arlington Hills hour reduction and urged the mayor’s office and Office of Financial Services to consider alternatives to one-time funding for ongoing services.

Procedural note

The board approved the Aug. 6 meeting minutes by motion of Council Member Yang; the minutes were adopted with six ayes and no opposed votes.

What’s next

Hartman said staff will provide further details on the Rondo temporary services plan and follow up on fund-balance and attrition calculations requested by board members. The board and council members asked staff to continue exploring funding options for sustaining library materials purchasing power and long-term support for library safety positions.