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May 26, 2009
Massive Library Cutbacks Considered
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Granted, it's not exactly Fahrenheit 451. But after Montclair Town Manager Joe Hartnett identified a potential $1.6 million savings to the town if the library was funded at the state-mandated minimum, Cliff Kulwin, the president of the library's board of trustees, couldn't stay silent. Kulwin was referring to the so-called "horror budget," which the council asked Hartnett to prepare, to find ways to reduce the town budget by 5 percent. (Download it here.)
"Three days ago I was stunned to read Township Manager Joseph Hartnett's May 12 report to members of the Township Council," Kulwin wrote last Friday. Reducing the library's budget from $3.8 million to the state's mandated $2.2 million was the second proposal on the list. Other proposals included deferring pension costs, selling township property and granting new liquor licenses.
"I could not believe what I read," Kulwin added. "Mr. Hartnett believes that Council members should consider restricting the library to the state-mandated minimum. The impact on the library - and the Township - would be devastating."
Thus far, library leadership has refrained from public comment on the budget process. After this week, that is no longer possible.
An immediate cut to the state-mandated minimum would leave only enough funding this year to cover salaries for a third of the staff. The PSE&G bill would be beyond our reach and we would be forced to close the library for weeks and perhaps months. Into the future, such cuts would permanently shut the Bellevue Avenue Branch and the third floor of the main building and would slash weekend and evening hours. Special programs would be history, new acquisitions meager.
Is this the library we want?
Hartnett's 5 percent reduction budget considers the impact on every department. The town council will be discussing the budget at its meeting tonight.
Posted by Debbie Galant on May 19, 2009 8:55 AM
Posted by tumulty at May 26, 2009 5:23 PM
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