Des Plaines Library curbs spending

The Des Plaines Public Library board recently adopted a $6.9 million budget for 2010, a 4 percent decrease from the 2009 budget of $7.2 million, officials said.

Items like the library's quarterly newsletter, membership in a cable network, and out-of-state travel for staff were axed.

The cuts were made in response to Des Plaines city officials urging the municipal library board to curb expenses such as staff travel to conferences and pay raises in next year's budget in light of the city's financial constraints.

Funding for the Des Plaines Public Library comes from the city's general fund as there is no separate library tax levy.

Library officials said Friday they cut as much as possible without it hurting core services at a time when the library is having a record-breaking summer in terms of attendance, circulation and participation in various programs.

The board decided to delay filling two employee positions until mid-2010, and not to replace the aging library van, upgrade the telephone system, or purchase another self check machine for the library's third floor. Tuition reimbursement for employees also was largely eliminated and money allocated for purchasing materials such as books and CDs was reduced by 5 percent.

However, the library's biggest expenditure remains salaries.

Library board President Noreen Lake said the board discussed reducing employees' merit-based pay increases by 1 percent across the board, which would have saved the library $18,000 next year.

"We didn't feel that it was a big enough cost savings," she said. "We were waiting to see what the city is doing. We didn't hear anything that (officials) were stopping all raises or whatever."

Library employees may get up to a 6 percent pay raise based on individual merit.

The proposed 2010 library budget, which includes operational expenses and money for capital projects, still must be approved by the city council.

"The bottom line is they really don't have a say," Lake said. "Under Illinois library law, that's how we function. We have autonomy over the expenditures of the library budget - We try to work together with the city council."

Lake said city officials received a copy of the library budget a week ago and have not said a word.

The city council will begin discussions on the city's 2010 budget at an Oct. 6 special meeting.