Library and parks cuts proposed in McMinnville budget; staff warn reduced hours and deferred maintenance will be visible

Library and Parks & Recreation directors told the Budget Committee the proposed FY26 reductions would require reduced hours, fewer programs and the pausing of a planned facilities‑planning project intended to address aging buildings.

The Library director said staffing reductions required reducing open hours, which will affect programs and events and reduce capacity to pursue some opportunities. Parks & Recreation Director Susan Muir said the department would reduce its mailed quarterly recreation guide by two‑thirds, a cut that could reduce community awareness of fee‑driven programs and potentially lower program revenue. She said the department proposed pausing Culture, Parks and Recreation bond planning work and redeploying $359,000 allocated this year to help close the general‑fund gap.

Muir said pausing the bond‑planning work would leave the city without a long‑term plan for aging facilities and would reverse progress on park maintenance: "This cut takes us back to where we were before the 2324 budget was approved," she said, describing reductions in irrigated acreage, preventative maintenance and volunteer support. She added facility issues such as elevators remain concerns and that putting off maintenance increases long‑term risk and affects staff morale.

Committee members asked about the revenue sensitivity of reduced marketing (the recreation guide) and how volunteer programs and park asset protection would be affected; staff said they would monitor program revenue and that park standards would be scaled back to basic maintenance levels if reductions are approved.