Somos Pobres Otra Vez. (Proposed 2007-2008 City of L.A. Budget)

From The City Librarian's Office (Fontayne Holmes) April 20th, 2007--All Staff:

Today, the Mayor released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007-08. If you read the newspaper, listened to the radio or watched the television coverage, you already know that this will be a difficult fiscal year for the City of Los Angeles.

With less projected revenues and a commitment to decrease the City's structural budget deficit each year, the Mayor's budget includes reductions in most city departments.

The mayor's proposed budget provides funds for the library that will:

• Sustain the increase in hours at 24 community branches to meet the system-wide standard of six days, 52 hours per week--this includes 53 FTE positions to support the increased hours. ($2,528,994).
• Regularize 7 positions critical to maintaining the library's essential technology infrastructure. ($594,188).
• Purchase furniture, equipment and books for the new, larger Exposition Park-Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Regional Branch. ($766,102).

The Budget represents a small overall Library Department reduction of 0.5% from this year's budget. But it also reduces the Library's materials budget from $11,429,111 to $8,830,111.

The proposed budget now goes to the City Council for its review. During this process I will request the restoration of our materials budget funds.

I will update you as I receive information.

Sincerely,

Fontayne

So...last year, our ubiquitous smiling Mayor and City Council decided that it would be a good idea to keep all branch libraries in the city open longer--an extra 12hrs a week longer. A couple months back I broke down the entire fiscal year budget for 2006-2007....there was an allocation for 53 FTE (Full Time Employees) in that budget and here it is again--I don't understand. We've yet to see 53 new hires in the library department, given the terrible staff shortages...

I haven't had a chance to review the Mayors proposed budget yet and it must get City Council approval before the actual budget is released/printed. But it seems to be another example of short-term planning, or politicizing. Opening the branch libraries (all 64) longer made for good PR but now comes the crunch--as usual.

A reduction of the Library materials budget (Books! Stamps!) from $11,429,111 to $8,830,111

For the mathematically dis-inclined, that's $2,599,000 less than the previous year. I requested a new set of stamps over a year ago--they still haven't arrived/approved. Bookstampers get no love from the city. Luckily for us at our affluent hidden branch, our Friends of The Library organization purchases most of our "luxury" materials, so that we don't have to rely on the city...

I guess when it's the only "socialist" institution in the country, you can't complain too much. Yes. But then again L.A Police Department burns over a billion (yes 1Bn) year after year...and I still see people using the Club on their steering wheels. I mean really, who the hell still uses The Club anymore?