Sno-Isle announces budget cuts
In response to community feedback earlier this year, the Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees took its first official action in the 2010 budgeting process when it directed staff to reduce salaries for the six highest paid employees, as well as the remainder of the senior administrators, in 2010.
In addition, a salary freeze will be implemented for the remaining staff, and the library district will spend less money on books, materials and equipment.
These belt-tightening measures are in response to community requests to combine a small levy increase on the Nov. 3 ballot with additional budget cuts. If approved, this combination will stabilize library funding through 2014 and maintain current essential services.
These approved reductions and savings will be implemented in 2010 whether or not the levy increase measure on the Nov. 3 ballot is approved.
The ballot measure gives residents the opportunity to approve a nine cents per $1,000 increase to the library district's levy rate; this would mean the owner of a $300,000 home would pay $27 more a year for library services.
If the measure is not approved, open hours will be reduced in addition to other cuts, to offset the library's projected $2.5 million shortfall next year.
Last spring, through a series of community meetings and Web surveys, customers indicated support for a small levy increase if it was presented in conjunc- tion with additional reductions/ savings.
The 2010 Sno-Isle budget will include:
• 3 percent salary reduction for the six highest paid employees, plus the remainder of the senior administrators, for 2010
• Salary freeze for all other staff for 2010
• Replacement of the library computer system delayed until 2011
• Materials and equipment budget reductions
• Elimination of a number of vacant positions
• Elimination of the nonlibrary program presenters' budget
The Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees will review two preliminary 2010 budgets at its next meeting on September 29. One budget will reflect levy passage, and one budget will reflect levy failure. The Board will approve the 2010 budget at its November 23 meeting.
The Sno-Isle Libraries serves more than 656,000 residents in Snohomish and Island counties. Services and materials include 1.3 million items, reference services, electronic databases and computer equipment, Internet access, outreach programs for the home-bound and local daycares and story times for children.
For more information on library services call the Sno-Isle Libraries Service Center at 360-651-7000 or 1-877-SNO-ISLE (1-877- 766-4753), or visit the web site at www.sno-isle.org.
