SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown’s latest budget proposal has some deep funding cuts to the Spokane Public Library System.
Right now, all seven of Spokane’s Public Libraries are open seven days a week. But library leaders say if the mayor’s budget plan passes, the libraries would only be able to afford to stay open four days a week.
The plan gives the public library system roughly $25 million for the next two years, but library officials say that’s not enough and have calculated a $4.6 million dollar shortfall.
“We’re disappointed in the mayor’s proposal,” executive director Andrew Chanse said. “In order to maintain our current operations seven days a week, it’s not sufficient. It’s short by $2.3 million per year.”
Library officials also say the budget will not cover operational costs such as staffing.
“It could be [cost] upwards of 20% of our staff,” Chanse said.
Chanse says they would be forced to close the libraries on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays if this new budget is approved.
“We’re talking… days where people cannot access the services and the buildings,” Chanse said.
However, Mayor Brown said the libraries also receive funding from a levy, and her plan for the next two years is focused on wildfire recovery and community safety.
“The fundamental issue for libraries is their costs have gone up, but their levy costs have been flat and the general fund has remained flat, so there is a gap there,” Mayor Brown said.
As part of her community safety plan, the budget includes a funding increase to the Spokane Police Department for a “bike and boots foot patrol” that would add more officers downtown.
There will be a public comment opportunity on the budget proposal at Wednesday’s city council meeting at 6 p.m. There is no date set yet on when the council will vote to approve the budget, but the city says they hope to vote early December.
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