COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The city’s library system met Wednesday in an effort to balance its budget after the Ohio budget slashed library funding by 31 percent.
NBC 4’s Tom Brockman reported with the FAST FACTS.
The Columbus Metropolitan Library system’s board of trustees met at the Main Library to discuss how to make up a 31 percent reduction in state funding.
That translates to an $8.5 million cut in annual funds.
The board decided to take the follow actions:
1. Cuts to the workforce will save around $3 million:
- That includes the elimination of 60 vacant positions (on top of 100 eliminated in last five years)
- Implementation of a 10 percent reduction in hours for hourly workers
- Five percent pay cut for other employees
- A pay freeze will be implemented through 2010
2. The trustees also agreed to use some $2.6 million from the capital projects fund for operational needs, which will put some maintenance projects on hold or cancels them all together.
3. Sunday operating hours will be eliminated at its 20 branches. Those employees will be offered opportunities elsewhere. That move will save some $450,000. The Main Library at 96 S. Grant Ave. will operate from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
4. The trustees also reduced annual operating hours by 18 percent. The alternative was closing six or seven regional branches.
“The staff is going to feel some compromises -- taking pay cuts -- and I think the biggest compromise is really to the community,” board President Amy Milbourne said.
No library system employees will lose their jobs, and no branches will close.
The changes will take effect Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009.
Go to http://www.columbuslibrary.org/ for more information.
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