Indiana Board Cuts Staff and Hours
in Austerity Budget
In an effort to stay afloat following the loss of property-tax revenue caused by Bethlehem Steel’s bankruptcy, the Westchester Public Library in Chesterton, Indiana, announced it would cut 53 full- and part-time employees from its staff of 63 beginning in January. The library board approved an austerity budget November 29 that also reduces operating hours and eliminates a reciprocal borrowing agreement with other county libraries.
Library Director Phil Baugher said that strong resident support swayed him from closing the Porter branch entirely, and that it would remain open mornings for children’s programming. He told the board that the library needed to “hunker down” during these drastic times, the Merrillville Post-Tribune reported November 30.
During the board meeting, six retired reference librarians offered to volunteer their services, along with 21 current staff who said they would return after January 1 to help without pay. “These things really make my heart glad,” Baugher said.
Meanwhile, the state legislature approved a measure that would make the library and other tax-supported bodies in Porter County eligible for advance payments on a portion of 2002 tax revenues. The Munster Times reported November 29 that lawmakers would consider legislation in January to provide the county with an interest-free loan of up to $31 million.
Posted December 3, 2001.
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