As president of the Aurora Public Library board, I find it necessary to correct some inaccuracies that have been published in local newspapers and on social media.
Currently, the library board is looking to reduce overall expenses in order to remain within its budget and has proposed certain changes in order to do so. As fiduciaries of the Aurora Library System, it is our fiscal responsibility to operate with a balanced budget, be efficient in our operations and not be dependent upon tax increases to address our shortfall.
In a July 14 column in The Voice newspaper on the subject, columnist Wayne Johnson said we were laying off 40 employees. In fact, we are eliminating 21 positions. Ten of those 21 positions were vacant, requiring no layoffs. We were proactive in not filling open posts to save on expenses and lessen the impact on employees. Instead of 40 layoffs, as stated by Johnson, there are 11 jobs at issue (union, management and part time). And in fact, as of the writing of this column, we have found new jobs for all five laid-off union employees, at their current pay rates.
As in other areas of service and industry, the digital age and technology have changed the way libraries operate. Children as young as 6 or 7 can be seen checking books in and out at computerized kiosks throughout our buildings. Because access to these new technologies is a big part of what we offer to our residents, we need to redeploy staff to provide a new level of service and experiences. For example, we need skilled staff to create and run STEM programming and technology experts in our Makerspace.
Reduced hours and fewer employees have been recommended for the Washington Middle School Branch on the far West Side, as well as elimination of the Church Road satellite. The West Branch has seen a 20 percent drop in activity as more and more residents choose the new Santori Library and all its amenities. The number of visitors at the Church Road facility doesn’t justify a separate facility at this difficult time.
Nonetheless, there are those upset with reduced hours proposed for the West Branch, and some are suggesting that the West Side would be robbed of vital services, ignoring the fact that the new Santori Public Library is a West Side facility.
Johnson states in his column, “In a matter of weeks, the West Branch will be closed.” That statement is completely erroneous. What we are proposing is reducing operating hours based on a measurable drop in traffic. Our West Branch does 12 percent of library business, roughly 300 patrons a day (and declining) versus 1,000 a day at Santori and 1,250 a day at the Eola Road Branch, with both increasing. We have simply suggested trimming the West Branch’s hours of operation. It is common-sense business practice when faced with reductions to focus on those services that impact the fewest number of citizens.
There have been arguments by a few to raise the property tax levy to avoid measures required to live within our budget. Rather than create another property tax increase for our entire city, we prefer to make judicious reductions that weren’t made during the recession.
When the Great Recession hit (2008-2009), the city of Aurora found it necessary to reduce its authorized workforce by 15 percent in order to balance the city budget. At that time, the library’s executives and board decided to use financial reserves rather than cut services, as it seemed to be the best way to serve the community during the recession.
Those reserves were used to balance our budget and not increase taxes in Aurora. Now those “reserves” are gone, and the day of reckoning that the city faced eight years ago is facing the library as a separate organization.
If cuts had been made then, perhaps we wouldn’t be facing today’s situation. We are hoping we can work with union officials to find alternative ways to lower expenses and minimize service and personnel reductions.
The library board is not inclined to ask for a property tax increase every time it is faced with a tough decision. Additionally, unlike some other governmental entities, we do not believe that “kicking the can down the road” is fiscally responsible and will only make our challenges worse.
The Aurora Library System is amazing. We touch so many individuals in our community in so many different ways. We are facing difficult fiscal times, as is every other governmental unit in the state and country. I’m committed to tackling our issues head-on, and I’m confident that together, we will get through these challenging times.
John Savage is president of the Aurora Public Library board of directors.
