2007 Budget Update

Just so everyone knows, Maura, Leslie and the rest of the Admin. Team and several departments are busy working on a preliminary budget for 2007. Despite whatever happens with the TEL/TABOR; Maura feels confident we can safely absorb a cut of up to 20% without having it affect staff positions for 2 years. However, in order to do this, we do have to start a "hiring frost" immediately. Which we've done.

What a "hiring frost" means is that while we'll still fill staff vacancies, we won't automatically fill them. Each opening will be evaluated for need versus available staff before we decide to replace someone. In the immediate sense, it will begin affecting branches as your pages leave after graduation from high school. With a "hiring frost" they will NOT automatically be replaced. You guys may have to get creative about how you get the books shelved. (Think volunteers and friends and "adopt a shelf" programs.) We'll be talking more about this issue at all of our various May meetings.

In planning the budget, we'll be preparing scenarios for 5% - 50% cuts. (Just to be sure.) You all have been very helpful in gathering statistical information on workload, programs, services, etc. for us, so we can make informed decisions about where to make our cuts.

I will continue to post updates about this topic to the blog. If you've got any questions or comments about it, please let me know and I'll try to answer questions.