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Director warns proposed 17% cuts would jeopardize accreditation as city faces shortfall
Summary
Director Rossella Tesch told the board the City is facing a shortfall and that a proposed 17% across-the-board cut would threaten the library's accreditation; trustees discussed budget constraints and upcoming budget work sessions with city officials.
At the July 7 meeting the Chadron Public Library director told trustees the City is facing a funding shortfall and warned that steep across-the-board cuts would jeopardize the library’s accreditation and its ability to operate core services.
Director Rossella Tesch said the City is short on funds and that a proposal by Janet Johnson to cut each department’s budget by 17% would be unsustainable for the library. She told the board that the library had paid for its own relocation costs and that reductions of that magnitude would undermine accreditation requirements the library must meet to maintain its services.
Rossella said she met with City Manager Tom Menke and Finance Officer Michelle Stocke on June 9 to discuss preliminary budget matters and that the board will receive copies of budget materials. Trustees asked questions about the city’s revenue outlook; Rossella said she did not have details on the reason for the city’s projected shortfall but provided the board with the budget worksheet and workshop draft included in the packet.
Board members agreed to continue budget preparation and to raise the accreditation constraint in upcoming city budget discussions. No formal vote on a library-specific reduction was taken at the July 7 meeting; the board will continue reviewing the FY 2026–27 budget at future meetings.
