Budget Questions

Well, library questions, really. But it's all the same at this point.

If you haven't heard, the library trustees voted late this week to go with a $300,000 budget for next year, a cut of $800,000. This leads to the library being open three days a week.

While Mayor Lisa Wong has talked about not liking such a big cut, she hasn't talked about why the library was delivered such a big blow (nearly 75 percent. Holy cow). (Self-beating: I haven't talked to Wong in a week. Shame on me.) More big hits are coming, you have to think, and Wong is going to have to justify her thinking, or at least explain her decisions as this moves on. Considering how draconian some of these cuts are going to be, she's going to have to. She doesn't have to explain the situation, but she does have to explain some this. Or she's going to be hung worse than she already is.

Now, while we're asking questions, a story in today's Telegram says Wong wants the library to make sure the youth library stays open. Initially, it was going to be shuttered. In the story, the library director says it will cost $75,000 to staff the youth library at 22.5 hours a week. That's 1170 hours a year. That comes out to over $64 an hour. How many people are working back there? If it's three, that's pretty good coin for a part-time job. Sign me up. If it's less than three, holy cow. If it's more than three, is that really necessary? How many people are needed back there at one time? I've been there randomly over the last few years, and I've seen at most three families at once back there (but I haven't been for a story hour or whatnot). Which leads me to my final question: Considering what's going on in the city, isn't there a way to keep the youth library open for less than $75k/year?

Let the week of questions of begin.... now.