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Library director outlines plan to restore maintenance and materials funding
Summary
The library director described a plan to ask for restored appropriations to repairs/maintenance and books/materials lines, proposing not to fill two vacant clerk positions as an offset; city budget rules require a formal appropriation request and the director will prepare documentation for an October meeting.
The library director told the executive committee she plans to request that the city restore line items for repairs, maintenance and books and materials after those lines were reduced in recent budget actions.
The director said she had proposed balancing the restoration by leaving two vacant full‑time clerk positions unfilled for the year, but was told the city does not allow moving funds out of full‑time personnel lines into other lines. "I was trying to show that in good faith, we were going to continue not to spend that money out of the full time budget in exchange for the money being restored to the other lines," the director said, adding that the city instead asked for a formal appropriation request.
Trustees discussed the types of maintenance covered by the line — elevator inspections, HVAC, consumables such as toilet paper and ice melt — and noted a recent unplanned chiller part replacement that forced a half‑day closure. The director said about $62,000 was cut from the affected lines, roughly a 40% reduction, but that the library currently had funds to operate through November.
The director also said the library purchased a skid steer with ARPA funds that eliminates an annual $10,000 rental expense, and said she will prepare reporting to document contract and supply timing before formally asking council for the appropriation. The chair suggested the item be raised with city council members at an October meeting that will include a facility tour.
The director will draft a formal appropriation request and return to trustees with specific dollar amounts and timing for submission to finance and council agendas.
