Library mulls budget cuts, suspends book purchases
By Karen Cimino Wilson .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Cabarrus County Public Library director has recommended about a $77,000 reduction in its annual budget to buy new books to help the county weather a $12.5 million shortfall in fiscal year 2010, according to county officials.
The library also has stopped purchasing new books for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
Cabarrus County Manager John Day recommended in January that the county cut 2.9 percent across the board from its $209 million budget to help the county handle the budget crunch, which is caused by the weak economy.
The county has experienced declining revenue from building permits and inspections, register of deeds fees, property taxes and sales tax that have caused a $6.1 million shortfall in the current budget. County budget officials are anticipating continued difficulties in 2010.
Department heads have been scouring their budgets for places to cut. Library Director Tom Dillard recommended purchasing fewer books in 2010. The recommendation is part of the preliminary budget for fiscal year 2010. Cabarrus County commissioners will begin discussing the budget at a special meeting on April 23 and have until June 30 to approve the 2010 budget. Commissioners can make changes to individual line items if they disagree with them.
The library budgeted $253,286 in county funds for new books to be purchased in fiscal year 2009. It also received $140,500 from the Cannon Trust Fund for a total of $393,786. The library spent $216,782 on books through February 2009, but will suspend further purchases through the end of this fiscal year in June.
The breakdown of spending for fiscal year 2009 is as follows: $71,809 for books at the Kannapolis branch; $15,868 for books at the Mount Pleasant branch; $24,671 for books at the Harrisburg branch; and $104,434 for books at the Concord branch.
The county expects another contribution from the Cannon Trust Fund in fiscal year 2010, but its unclear how much that will be, said county spokeswoman Aimee Hawkins.
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