Budget Reduction Forces Cuts in Hours, Positions @ the La Crosse Public Library

Not to mention fringe benefits.

La Crosse library to cut hours, positions. (La Crosse Tribune, 10/3/2011)

Excerpt:   The La Crosse Public Library will close its main site an hour earlier on most weekdays and lay off five part-time employees at the end of the year because of budget cuts.

The library on Main Street will shut down at 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday starting Jan. 1, library director Kelly Krieg-Sigman said.

The five positions also end on that date, she said, adding they're the first layoffs she has had to make since coming to La Crosse in 2003.

And the archives department no longer will be open after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

The moves help the library meet the 3.2 percent budget reduction required of all city departments for 2012. That, coupled with adjustments for health insurance and benefits, left the library having to trim more than $400,000, she said. [Emphasis added.]

According to the 2010 Wisconsin Public Library Service Data, the La Crosse Public Library's salaries and fringe benefits expenditures are above the average for all Wisconsin public libraries.

Didn't find the 2012 proposed operating budget on the city's website.

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Other Wisconsin county and municipal budget news.
Marathon County cuts employee benefits to balance 2012 budget.  (10/3/2011)
City of Sheboygan 2012 proposed budget.  (10/3/2011)
2012 Brown County Public Library proposed budget.  (10/1/2011)
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Beloit Public Library proposed 2012 budget.  (9/30/2011)
Shawano City-County Library receives $13,000 cut (3%) in county funding.  (9/28/2011)
City of Rhinelander looking at a $200,000 decrease in revenue for 2012.  (9/27/2011)
Mayor Barrett's proposed 2012 budget increases hours, expands 3 educational initiatives @ the Milwaukee Public Library.  (9/26/2011)
Janesville:  Slight decrease in 2012 Hedberg Public Library budget.  (9/25/2011)
Fond du Lac faces $1.7 million deficit.  (9/23/2011)
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Beloit to make deep cuts to police, fire departments.  (9/22/2011)
Wisconsin Rapids 2012 budget process underway.  (9/22/2011)
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Dodge County Administrator:  "Governor Walker does not speak for Dodge County".  (8/25/2011)
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Brown County Exec looks at same tax levy, impact on services to be determined.  (8/18/2011)
City of Shawano wrestles with $128,000 deficit.  (8/16/2011)
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Sauk County officials ask for input.  (8/12/2011
Marathon County ranks services to address $500,000 budget shortfall.  (8/12/2011)
City of Beloit faces a challenging budget process.  (8/8/2011)
Fond du Lac city manager sez Governor's tools not enough to offset cuts.  (8/2/2011)
Manitowoc mayor asks department heads for 10% budget cuts.  (8/2/2011)