The goal of library budget cuts is to avoid impacting public needs as much as possible, Robles added.Library hours will be reduced by two a week, book purchases reduced by $5,000 to $10,000 annually and Robles salary reduced by $2,000 a year. Trustees also agreed to reduce the amount of money going into Robles’ retirement fund by matching up to $1,000 of his annual contribution, instead of the current $3,000 annually.Trustees approved a preliminary budget of $464,626, 10 percent lower than the current year’s allocated expenditures.City Councilwoman Mary Ann Krause said during public comment that the trustees should think twice about selling the unused parking lot on the north side of the building and the combination parking lot and park facing Santa Barbara Street being eyed by developer Peoples’ Self-Help Housing.“Hang on to the land,” for lease instead of sale, noted Krause, who also suggested that if a housing project is built in the future two units should be set aside for BCL employees.
BCL facing 10% budget cut, reduction in hours and book purchases
May 30, 2003
Santa Paula News
The Blanchard Community Library Board of Trustees had to bite the budget bullet to make up for projected state cuts by reducing library hours and the salary of its top administrator in an effort to make up a 10 percent shortfall. A public speaker at the meeting urged trustees to consider leasing unused land for an affordable housing development in lieu of selling it.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Blanchard Community Library Board of Trustees had to bite the budget bullet to make up for projected state cuts by reducing library hours and the salary of its top administrator in an effort to make up a 10 percent shortfall. A public speaker at the meeting urged trustees to consider leasing unused land for an affordable housing development in lieu of selling it.“We’re looking at cuts, reducing all services and staffing to make up for the $50,000 shortfall,” said Librarian Dan Robles, who suggested that trustees consider cutting his own $60,000 salary by about 10 percent and paring about $19,000 from staff salaries.Trustee Gene Marzec asked about librarian salaries and Robles noted that “out of 22 special district libraries” his salary is ranked 16th.“I know it’s never going to be anywhere near,” other districts. “If I was a city department head I’m make $40,000 to $50,000 more than I make now.”
