New challenges in budget battle for Kansas City libraries

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – A June 30 deadline to cross a finances for practically three dozen libraries across the Kansas Metropolis space is looming. And it has some individuals fearful all 34 Mid-Continent Public Libraries in Clay, Jackson and Platte counties might shut down on the finish of the month if the library system doesn’t adjust to state statute.

Mid-Continent Public Library Director and CEO Steven Potter wrote in a Might weblog making a finances attempting to determine what “regular” seems to be like has been a problem as neighborhood rooms, drive up home windows distant printing and wi-fi to go have all been added for the reason that pandemic. They nonetheless anticipate to log 4 million visits this yr.

Employees offered a $84.5 million general finances to MCPL’s Board of Trustees final month together with the capital fund. It stated the $57.3 million working finances was balanced and accounts for the wants of the library system. However not everybody on the board agreed.

“In case you can justify the numbers behind right here that’s high-quality, however I don’t have it and I don’t see something that’s supporting it,” a trustee stated. (Board conferences are recorded in such a approach to permit viewers to see the agenda merchandise, however not the person trustees on a large shot within the excessive higher proper nook of the display)

Now regular steps within the finances course of to iron out variations aren’t occurring.

“Sometimes there’s a finance committee assembly between the Might and the June board assembly. There’s not one scheduled in the mean time,” Susan Wray, MCPL Assistant Director and COO, stated.

Some individuals who comply with library conferences suppose the finances battle is about greater than cash.

“This appears to be the newest transfer when it comes to some sort of platform,” Mark Kovar stated.

Mid Continent Public Library has by no means needed to implement it earlier than, however Wray stated there’s a coverage in place she hopes the board would comply with to maintain the library open, if it involves it.

“That claims if the board can’t agree or cross a finances the workers offered finances goes into impact,” Wray defined.

Wray stated The Board of Trustees might nonetheless then amend the finances at a later date. Library patrons say they’ll be watching what occurs the following three weeks carefully.

“Folks come up right here for the whole lot, to discover a job, all types of stuff. I believe it could be a disgrace in the event that they closed it up,” Kent Cantrell stated.

A finances and levy public listening to is scheduled for Friday at 10 a.m. on the North Independence Library. The Board of Trustees isn’t required to attend. However they are going to take up the finances at a gathering scheduled on June 21 at 5 p.m. at MCPL Administrative Headquarters.