BARRHEAD - There are going to be some lean times at the Barrhead Public Library in 2020.
That is what a delegation headed by library director Elaine Dickie told Town of Barrhead and County of Barrhead councillors Dec. 9 during their annual joint council meeting.
At regular intervals, the town and county councils meet to discuss programs that the two municipalities operate jointly or are of mutual importance.
The delegation attended the joint council meeting Dec. 9 to present the library’s proposed 2020 budget, in which it asks both municipalities to contribute $18.44 per capita for library services, as well as a utility payment of $23,000, split equally between the two. Both figures are the same amounts the board requested and received in 2019.
The other major area of revenue for the library comes from a provincial grant of $60,312 ($5.55 per capita based on an area population of 10,867 residents).
It should be noted that in August, the province announced it was only giving libraries half of its Municipal Affairs grant and the other half would be sent after the 2019 budget was finalized.
Shortly after the joint council meeting, the library received the other half of its provincial funding.
In 2020, the library projects it will generate $376,895 in revenue with expenditures matching revenue. Salaries are once again the largest expense at $263,772.
Councillors agreed to forward the budget to their prospective councils for consideration.
Dickie said the board wanted to present a balanced budget without asking for the municipalities to increase their contributions. They managed to accomplish that feat, but it wasn’t without difficulty.
To balance the books, the library raised its membership fees starting in July and reduced staff hours.
Dickie noted that a library membership only entitles people to borrow items, while the vast majority of services the library offers are free.
“All staff members who will be working for us in 2020 have had some kind of reduction in their hours,” Dickie said, noting she wasn’t immune from cuts either.
Dickie’s hours were reduced by 2.5 hours a week, while the majority of staff had their hours shaved by 0.5 a week.
She added they have also laid off some part-time workers to reduce expenses.
It should be noted for the first time in several years employees will not be getting cost of living or merit-based wage increases.
“It is going to be tight and I am hopeful that we are going to be able to accomplish this [balance budget] without decreasing hours,” Dickie said.
As for what impact these cuts would have on staff workload or public service levels, she did not commen.
However, she pointed out that in uncertain economic times, the demand for library services increase.
Adding to their difficulties is the fact that the Pembina Hills School Division has reduced the amount they provide to the library.
In 2020, the school division will contribute $31,600 compared to $52,430 in 2019.
Dickie added that going forward the school division’s contributions will be allocated on a per-capita basis, adjusted for Barrhead Elementary School’s enrolment.
“That way if their enrolment numbers are dropping, they are not being held to a higher amount,” she said.
Dickie added that while the board has held the line on their budget for 2020, in 2021 they will be asking for a $1 per capita increase and a little more in 2022.
This is in part to fund 0.5 per cent cost of living adjustment raises, as well as to cover a projected $12,000 budget deficit in 2021.
The board is projecting a funding shortfall because the school division may no longer make a contribution to utilities.
“We are going into negotiations with Pembina Hills and we still don’t know if they are going to continue to pay for half of the utilities,” Dickie said.
“There is a little piece of me that says ‘I don’t think so.’”
County Coun. Walter Preugchas asked about the state of the library’s reserves.
“They are getting a bit anemic (at $31,234),” Dickie said.
While she is pleased the province came through with all of the provincial grant, Dickie noted she is frustrated that the province is using 2011’s census data as the basis for their provincial grant.
“I’m not sure why they are doing it, so we have lost some ground in what the province should give us,” she said.
