City Tells Memphis PL to Make Drastic Cuts

http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2006abc/january2006ab/memphis.cfm

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Posted January 27, 2006.

City Tells Memphis PL to Make Drastic Cuts

The Memphis Public Library needs to trim $700,000 from next year’s operating budget as part of the city’s efforts to reduce costs among all its departments. The library’s current operating budget is $19 million, but it faces a reduction in state funding by $50,000 for materials in 2006, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported January 27.

Curt Kittrell, MPL assistant director for business operations, said that library officials are looking at keeping 30–40 vacant positions open, a move that would save about $500,000 in salaries and benefits. Cutting or reducing existing contracts, such as cleaning services, could save another $150,000.

MPL Director Judith Drescher said in the Commercial Appeal that the city’s capital improvement projects budget had also been reduced considerably, which could affect the library’s ability to qualify for the types of repairs that are not considered the highest priority.

The city belt-tightening was prompted by a deficit of approximately $26 million. “We’ve got to be very, very creative and spend only minimally,” city Finance Director Robert Lipscomb said on Memphis CBS affiliate WREG-TV January 27. “More than 70% of our budget is tied up in salaries and benefits, and we don’t intend to lay off workers.”

Posted January 27, 2006.