Beltrami County: branch library to cut two full‑time positions and reduce hours after county budget cuts

Commissioner Carlson told the Beltrami County Board of Commissioners that, because of county budget reductions, the Baiji branch library will lay off two full‑time employees — approximately one‑third of the branch’s staff — and reduce weekly operating hours from 56 to 39.

“Because of our county cuts, they’ll have to be laying off two full‑time employees and which amounts to about 33% of their staffing levels,” Commissioner Carlson said during commissioners’ reports. He described the new weekly schedule the branch plans to implement starting March 30: the branch will be closed Mondays; open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; open Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and closed Saturday and Sunday.

Carlson and other commissioners raised the staffing and hours reductions as part of routine reports; no motions or votes specific to the library staffing changes were recorded during the meeting. The remarks framed the changes as a consequence of the county’s budget decisions rather than an independent vote of the board at this session.

The board did not record additional details in the meeting minutes about how the county cuts were allocated across departments, whether any mitigation funding will be considered, or the names of the staff positions affected. Commissioners encouraged continued community engagement with county services and listed upcoming meetings and events.