The city council received presentations from department heads and comments from residents throughout April, and it is gearing up to hash out the budget on Tuesday.
One item that’s drawn a lot of attention is the proposal to cut five full-time library employees’ positions to reduce the overall library budget. The cuts include four branch service coordinators and an administrator.
“I’m here to personally advocate for the branch services coordinator in my branch,” said Melissa Peck, a librarian, at a public comment session recently. “She is the absolute backbone to our staff. I honestly can say I do not know how we would do without these professionals.”
Peck was joined by several others during two hearings, advocating for the staff and outlining the crucial role libraries play in communities. Along with books, WiFi and study spaces, libraries provide a gathering place.
“I attended a Virginia Beach library program this morning, which was a walk through the ViBe District where we learned about the murals and the artists who painted them,” Robyn Friedman said at a hearing.
Friedman doubted if libraries could continue to provide the same levels of service.
The city budget proposal adds 140 jobs overall, including about 45 school jobs and 30 new firefighter recruits.
The library job cuts would total about $590,000 in savings for the department. Job responsibilities will be redistributed to remaining employees and eliminating branch service coordinators instead of other positions will avoid service disruptions or reduced library hours, according to the budget proposal document.
“If council sees fit to restore those positions to the final budget, it will only strengthen the library’s ability to provide services,” library director Kim Knight said in a presentation to the council.
If the positions are cut, Knight said staff could move into other vacancies in the libraries.
It’s not clear if the vacant positions would pay at the same level as their current roles.
Knight said the library department had to cut $1.1 million from its budget to meet a request from the city for a 5.5% reduction. Operations and materials account for 10% each and didn’t have a lot of room for cuts. So the library zeroed in on cutting from salaries and benefits, which account for 78% of its budget.
It’s the second year the library has eliminated jobs. Last year, five full-time positions were cut.
Other reductions in city staffing this year include roles in the city manager’s office, the convention and visitors bureau and economic development. Six vacant part-time public safety officer roles will also be eliminated.
