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L.A. County Cuts Would Mean Branch Closings, Cuts in HoursLos Angeles County libraries would lose $7 million under a plan to close the county’s $800-million budget gap. If the cut is approved by the county board of supervisors, the system may have to close branches and slash operating hours. Following the loss of property-tax revenue in the wake of state tax-reform measures, the board of supervisors began providing the library with supplemental funding from the general fund, explained Nancy Mahr, public information officer for the County of Los Angeles Public Library. Last year the board provided the library with an additional $7 million, which would not be repeated under the current proposal. If that happens, said Mahr, the system plans to close 15 of its 84 libraries and reduce hours at the others by 39%, although the board of supervisors may choose to enact some other combination of closures and reductions. Mahr pointed out that the system will face an additional $1.6-million loss if the legislature enacts Gov. Gray Davis’s plan to cut state support of local libraries in half. The board of supervisors will hold public hearings on the budget in May, and Mahr expects the library commissioners, Friends members, and other library supporters to testify. The board must approve the budget by June 30. Posted April 21, 2003. |
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