Anchorage, Alaska, will cut spending on library books and other publications 21% in 2001, but Mayor George Wuerch says a new cooperative effort with the University of Alaska/Anchorage will make up for some of the reduction. Under the arrangement, which has been discussed for some time and is now about to take effect, city residents will be able to check out books from the UA/A Consortium Library.
The city’s budget for library books and materials will be reduced by about $241,000 as the mayor seeks to provide this year’s level of services in 2001, the Anchorage Daily News reported December 8. Wuerch’s $258.3-million budget falls $10 million short of his earlier estimate of what that would cost, the newspaper said.
Other programs are also taking a hit. Spending on a food voucher program for low-income mothers is reduced, as is the snowplowing budget, and upkeep for city parks built in the past two years is all but eliminated.
Some Anchorage Assembly members were critical of Wuerch’s plan, but the mayor said his budget will deliver. “You’ll hardly see any difference at the receiving end of city services,” he said.
Posted December 18, 2000.