Sheboygan Council Votes to Make Up Nearly Half of Mayor's Cuts to Library Budget

Hats off to everyone who spoke up for the Mead Public Library.

Link to November 23 Sheboygan Press article, "Council to adopt budget Wednesday night".

Excerpt: The council took two actions during the three-hour marathon meeting.

By an 11-2 vote, it endorsed a general fund budget plan that would retain virtually all of its employees and balance the books through a series of moves that include holding several positions vacant, accepting $134,000 in concessions from the union representing the Public Works Department, using $125,000 from its motor vehicle fund and $100,000 in contingency money. The plan also includes $200,000 in new levy money.

Then, late Monday, aldermen voted, 9-4, to endorse a 6-cent increase in the tax rate to provide $140,500 for Mead Public Library to make up nearly half of the $300,000 in library cuts that Ryan originally planned. The vote came long after a public hearing on the budget, which drew about 30 speakers, many of whom favored fully funding the library.

Even with the $140,500, the library would still not meet its state mandated maintenance of effort funding for 2011, but would be able to remain in the Eastern Shores Library System and offer full services. Under the scenario, the library would continue with having five unpaid furlough days for its employees, closing on those days.

Ald. Don Hammond proposed the 6-cent rate increase for the library, which would keep its budget around $3.1 million, after a motion by Ald. Jim Bohren to raise the tax rate by 12 cents to generate enough money to restore all the cuts failed on a 7-6 vote.

Related articles:
Sheboygan residents keep speaking up for their library.  (11/23/2010)
Alderman plans to introduce amendment to address library budget shortfall.  (11/22/2010)
Sheboygan continues to speak up for its library.  (11/21/2010)
Residents speak up for their library.  (11/16/2010)
Library facing 11% cut in 2011 budget.  (10/9/2010)
Mayor offers his 2011 budget.  (10/5/2010)
Officials face $1,500,000 budget deficit in 2011.  (6/10/2010)
Council approves Mayor's new appointments to library board.  (4/28/2010)
Mayor questioned about library board appointments.  (4/26/2010)
Sheboygan Press Editorial Board supports library funding deal.  (11/27/2009)
Library likely to maintain its Maintenance of Effort funding.  (11/24/2009)
Update on library's Maintenance of Effort.  (11/20/2009)
Maintenance of Effort and the Mead Public Library.  (7/6/2009)