Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

On Tuesday, March 16, the Library learned that Mecklenburg County would be reducing the Library’s funding for fiscal year 2010 by $2 million dollars, before June 30, 2010.

The Mecklenburg County manager’s office laid out a plan that outlined reductions for many County-funded agencies, including the library, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Department of Social Services. The cuts are an attempt to help close what has grown into a $34 million shortfall in the FY2010 Mecklenburg County budget.

To absorb a $2 million reduction in such a short period of time, the Library will need to lay off at least 140 employees, resulting in the closure of at least 12 Library locations pending Library board approval. The Library had already been asked to reduce its budget by $4 million in county funds since January 2009. Those cuts included across the board salary and benefit reductions and significant cuts in the books and materials budget. The need to return $2 million dollars to Mecklenburg County means that it is no longer possible for the Library to defer lay-offs and location closings.

Budget Update Page: http://plcmc.org/about_us/librarybudgetinfo.asp

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