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Budget Cuts May Shut Eight Houston BranchesHouston Public Library Director Barbara Gubbin said she might be forced to close up to eight of the city’s 36 branches to meet Mayor Lee Brown’s request that city department heads help address a $44-million budget shortfall in FY2004. Doing so would save $1.6 million, the Houston Chronicle reported April 18. The alternatives, Gubbin said, are cutting all branch hours, eliminating management positions, and buying fewer materials. “When it comes to reducing the budget, you have to reduce people or materials,” she said. “And you can’t keep operating the same hours with fewer people. In some libraries, we’ve already reached a crisis situation.” Several council members criticized Gubbin's proposal. “It’s clear to me that keeping library doors open is not a priority,” said Councilman Michael Berry. “It should be the last thing that you would cut.” With the mayor not scheduled to release his budget until mid-May, some council members believe the departments’ various proposals—which also included shutting six fire stations and two health clinics—were made to test political reaction. Others charged that the administration was trying to prevent criticism later by claiming it is not responsible for the departments’ proposals. “It’s a strategic move on their part to alleviate the shock of some of the cuts they will propose,” said Councilman Bruce Tatro. Posted April 21, 2003. |
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