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Waterbury resident urges city to boost library funding, warns staff are 'underpaid and overworked'
Summary
At a public hearing on the mayor's proposed 2026–2027 budget, Waterbury resident Paul T. Smith urged increased funding for the city library, citing director notes that per‑capita support 'hasn't changed since about 1990,' reduced branch access, threatened weekend hours and staff shortages. The hearing closed and the Board adjourned by voice vote.
Paul T. Smith, a Waterbury resident, told the Board of Aldermen at a public hearing Monday that the mayor's proposed 2026–2027 budget underfunds the city's library system and leaves staff stretched thin.
Smith said he visits the Waterbury library daily to use public computers and borrow materials, and that budget reductions have left patrons with fewer branches and shorter hours. "We are currently the worst in the state in terms of funding for our our library system," he said, quoting a statement he attributed to the library director. He added that "per capita, our funding hasn't changed since about 1990," and that library staff are "underpaid and overworked."
Why it matters: The library provides computer access, borrowing and meeting space used by residents who may have limited alternatives. Smith said the city once had six branches and now has one, Sunday hours were discontinued and Saturday hours may be cut, which he said would reduce access for people who rely on weekend schedules.
Smith also raised concerns about safety and operations during evening hours, saying he had noticed "a lot of maybe homeless people drifting through" and that some patrons do not observe quiet norms. He urged the council to consider funding for measures such as evening security guards to protect patrons and keep the facility usable.
The public comment included several specific claims that Smith attributed to the library director: low per‑capita funding compared with other Connecticut cities, closed branches, increased workloads for remaining staff, and constrained auditorium availability for community groups. No board response to those claims is recorded in the hearing transcript.
After public comments concluded, a staff member confirmed Smith was the last registered speaker and the presiding officer closed the public hearing. Alderman Mosley moved to adjourn; Alderman Blake seconded, and the board approved the adjournment by voice vote. Individual roll‑call votes on the adjournment or on any budget measures were not recorded in the transcript.
The mayor's proposed 2026–2027 budget remained under consideration; the hearing provided a public opportunity for comment but the transcript contains no recorded council action on library funding or follow‑up assignments.
