Residents urge restoration of library staff as council weighs budget cuts

Dozens of residents and library supporters urged the Cottage Grove City Council to reverse or soften planned library budget cuts, citing public meetings, petitions and the library’s role as a community hub.

"We have over 900 signatures that want our library supported," said Tasha Lavelle, a Ward 2 resident. Several speakers asked the council to preserve paid staff rather than rely on volunteers, saying professional librarians are necessary for safety, programming and access to technology. Audrey Malan, who said she spoke with volunteers at a smaller, volunteer-run library in Keizer, told the council that Cottage Grove’s collection and programming are much larger and asked for an additional $50,000 to fund roughly 2.7 full‑time equivalents so two staff are on duty during open hours.

The nut graf: public commenters framed the issue as both practical and civic. Speakers repeatedly argued that the library provides free internet access, safe space and services for children and people who lack home computers, while some councilors emphasized competing demands on a tight municipal budget. Chris Holloman, who identified himself as a local resident and a member of the school board, said he was concerned about cuts to emergency services and questioned priorities, asking, "When that vehicle takes a tour up to Eugene... it's a 3 hour turnaround. That means this community will not have an ambulance for that 3 hours. And yet people are worried about a librarian."

Councilors acknowledged the volume of public testimony and offered several procedural responses. Councilor Lammerman suggested forming a library district and said a certified petition or ballot measure would allow voters to decide funding. He also asked about verification of the claimed 900 signatures, saying, "Where's the verification process to all that?"

Mayor Solsby and other council members stressed they have been reviewing the budget carefully and are balancing multiple priorities. City Manager Sauerwein told the council the formal budget adoption is scheduled for a June 22 meeting and that staff will provide updated information, including any new transient lodging tax receipts or carryover funds, ahead of adoption.

What happens next: Councilors asked staff to explore funding options and to account for public testimony in upcoming budget deliberations. Councilor Merritt said she could not support the budget in its current form and urged staff to find ways to ensure two staff members are on duty during library hours. The council did not take a formal vote on library funding at this meeting.

Quotes and attribution in this article come from speakers who identified themselves on the record during the public comment period.