Multnomah Braces for
Monday Closings, Layoffs
In anticipation of a $5-million budget shortfall, Multnomah County (Ore.) Library Director Ginnie Cooper has proposed closing all library branches on Mondays beginning February 1, laying off 50 staff, and reducing managers’ hours by 5%.
According to the December 18 Portland Oregonian, the lack of funds stems from a $1.19-million reduction in funds received from the county effective January 1, and a cut in the amount the library can collect from a state property-tax levy. The library began the fiscal year with a $47.7-million budget and the equivalent of 510 full-time employees. Slightly more than half of the library’s budget comes from a five-year, $29.6-million special levy approved by voters in 1997.
“Obviously, closures are not the direction we wanted to be going,” library Public Relations Manager Penny Hummel told the Oregonian. “Unfortunately, a lot of variables have changed.” She said layoffs are likely for pages, clerks, and library assistants within their one-year probation periods. Managers have the option of taking a week off without pay or reducing hours by 5%.
County officials are working on plans for a new five-year levy to place before voters next year.
Posted December 24, 2001.
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