Pages

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Leonia Library topics to be addressed at Town Hall Meeting, 3/31/16 at Leonia High School


Dear Leonia Library supporter,

Thanks for signing the petition to tell the Leonia Council and Mayor NOT to cut library funding proportionally more than any other municipal department or service.

Tomorrow night (March 31st at 7:30PM), the Mayor will hold a Town Hall Meeting at Leonia High School (100 Christie Heights) in the LHS Theater, and he will be "making a presentation regarding the municipal budget....At the conclusion of my presentation, I will open the floor to and facilitate questions and comments from attendees."

This will be your opportunity to ask:
  • Were cuts proposed to other departments this year? (The Mayor did not respond at March 21 Council meeting)
  • Is the 2016 Library budget cut proportional?
  • How have other depts fared between 2008 and 2015?  
  • How DOES Leonia spend its money? What are the real numbers? We want transparency!
Leonia’s budget should not be balanced on the back of our library.  And it's short-sighted to threaten property values further by devastating our library.
Here are some facts about the Library Budget. Feel free to refer to these points when you speak up at tomorrow night's meeting.

THE LIBRARY BUDGET
  • The Library has been well managed and is still ready to bear its share of the burden.
  • The Library budget was cut in 2008 (3 people lost their jobs) and has not returned to 2008 levels.  In 2008, the Library budget was $840,464.  In 2015, it was $817,982.
  • This cut is not a one-time reduction.  All future budgets will be based on this new figure.
  • BCCLS is a model of regionalization.  Library was a pioneer in shared services.   
  • The Library budget is the only one that includes health benefits and Social Security.  
  • Library salaries are modest compared to other departments. Part-time and volunteers are utilized.
  • The mission of the library is to be free to all citizens.
The Leonia  Library is YOUR Community Center.  About 3,000 attended library programs last year…people of all ages and socio-economic levels: seniors,  children,  teens. Let's keep it that way!
Sincerely,

Your Leonia Reads neighbors

Monday, March 28, 2016

Join our email list

Use this form to be added to the email list. You will receive updates and invitations to events.

Friday, March 25, 2016

Dozens of residents rally in support of the Library

Leonia Life reports on the Council meeting of March 21, 2016. The Library is now facing a budget cut of $125,000 for 2016.

As noted by NorthJersey.com, "An estimated 50 supporters of the library rallied outside the Borough Hall Annex on March 7 to protest a draft of the municipal budget that would reduce the borough's contribution to the library by $225,000, from an expected $840,000 to just less than $615,000, calling on council members, the mayor and other borough officials to "Save our library!" as they walked into the building for a mayor and council work session.."

Read the full story