Saturday, December 4, 2010

Building a Common Agenda Continues to Elude Galesburg City Council and Library Board


Link to December 2 Galesburg (IL) Register-Mail article, "Library could cut materials budget".

Excerpt: The Galesburg Public Library Board is hopeful city leaders will approve an increase for the library’s tax levy.

Even so, at least one board member at Thursday’s meeting proposed cuts on library materials next year if the City Council votes against the requested increase.

A long-standing conflict between the City Council and the library board is expected to culminate next week.

The City Council is scheduled Monday night to take a vote on the city’s property tax levy, which includes the library’s levy.

“I will be happy to see that happen,” said Library Director Pam Van Kirk at Thursday’s board meeting. “ ... At least the process will have been followed.”

Mike Kroll, board treasurer, has said the requested property tax increase translates to $4 for a home assessed at $100,000.

Last year, the city rejected the library’s levy request, forcing library officials to make several cuts. As part of its efforts to reduce costs last year, the library closed on Sundays and reduced its budget by $93,000.



Related article: 
Library looks at bare-bones budget.  (8/21/2010)

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