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Rob Ford’s budget committee sends library back to books

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More from Natalie Alcoba | @nataliealcoba

Mayor Rob Ford’s budget committee is insisting that the public library cut another $7-million from its budget, making a reduction in branch hours a real possibility.

The library board voted to trim its costs by $10-million, but fell short of the 10% cut the city manager had asked of all divisions because it refused to slash 19,000 hours and the collections budget by 11%.

On Monday, following a heated discussion about the value of libraries, the budget committee stood its ground, and chair Mike Del Grande pronounced it’s up to the board to figure out how to operate with less money. The budget committee also voted to maintain funding for nutrition programs in schools, and keep offering recreation programs in 12 community centres in school buildings.

Also, in a surprise move by Mr. Del Grande, two of seven school pools that are slated to lose city programming and funding were saved with extra tax revenue. It will cost the city $295,000 a year to offer programs at Bedford Park Community Centre and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Collegiate. Mr. Del Grande’s motion did not specify the pools — located in the wards of executive members Jaye Robinson and Paul Ainslie — rather, that programming should be maintained where there is not another indoor pool within three or four kilometres.

All decisions must be ratified by city council next week, when the library’s fortunes are sure to generate colourful debate.

“I have to question why many of the other agencies and departments have come in far less than 10%, and this Mayor seems to have his guns on the library,” said Councillor Janet Davis, a member of the library board.

City librarian Jane Pyper and City Manager Joe Pennachetti acknowledged that the library will likely have to reduce hours in order to meet the target. Cutting 19,444 hours, as presented, but not recommended, by the city librarian, would amount to a 7% reduction in total hours and save $5.4-million. Cutting the collections budget by about $1.9-million means the library would buy about 106,000 fewer items.

Councillor Michelle Berardinetti, a member of the budget committee, approved reducing the funding envelope, but says she expects the board to come up with a “better solution” to cutting hours.

But Councillor Paul Ainslie, chair of the library board and a Ford ally, says that’s one of the few options it has left.

“I’ll tell you even as the chair of the Toronto public library board, if I had to look at a choice between police officers and libraries having longer hours, I think most people would say to you they would rather have more police on the street,” he said. “I think it’s all about priorities.”

The city also has plans to build two new libraries.

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