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Cut the budget for Mt. Prospect library

According to the 9/21/12 article in The Journal the library budget for 2013 will increase 2.65 percent, the lowest increase in the last 10 years. The operating budget will increase 3.68 percent. Ninety-four percent of the increase is related to staffing expenses. There will be no cuts for the 175 part and full time employees.

During the three years ending 2011 the village total budget was down 4.9 percent, the operating budget down 2.5 percent. The 2012 library budget is a 9.3 percent increase over the 2010 actual expenditures.

Over the last four years my tax levy increase for the library has been 67 percent greater than the village increase. I would like to see the library board demonstrate the same fiscal responsibility as the village board. The library budget should be cut by a minimum of 10 percent. Library programs should be fee-based like the park district programs.

It would be nice if we could turn a few of those 175 library positions into teacher, fire, police and village staff positions that have been cut in recent years.

Wade Kiess

Mount Prospect

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