LIBRARY CUTS COMING, BUT HOW MUCH?

Less than a week after finding out its request for a funding increase had
been denied, Maplewood Library officials are now facing the prospect of
likely cutbacks, according to Library Board President Karen Pettis.

Following its regular meeting Wednesday night, Pettis said the board was
informed by Township Business Administrator Joseph Manning that a further
budget reduction was likely.

"That is what we are faced with, the possibility of additional cuts," Pettis
said Thursday. "We are considering a number of options, it is obviously
going to involve some service cuts. We are going to have to find a way to
trim the budget."

Last Saturday, at its most recent budget meeting, the Township Committee
agreed to reject a library budget increase request, which would have boosted
the township portion of the library budget from the current $1.87 million to
just over $2 million.

Now it appears that $1.87 million amount is not safe. "We have asked
[Library Director] Jane [Kennedy] to come up with some scenarios," Pettis
added. "We don't know what they will be, but we are beginning to make
plans."

Asked if cuts would mean shorter library hours, layoffs or furloughs, Pettis
said she did not know yet. "Until we have a real number to work with, there
is not a lot more to say."

The library update comes just weeks after township officials announced the
layoffs of 17 employee, including numerous Public Works Department workers.

The township is also planning to institute a furlough program this summer
that would require all non-emergency employees to take Fridays off without
pay for a total of 12 days.

The next library board meeting is set for March 18.