Mecklenburg library answers expected soon

When Mecklenburg County passed its $1.35 billion budget this week, it set the stage for the local library to finish negotiating with surrounding towns for financial relief.

Early next week, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library expects to have a final answer from those towns on what budget help it can expect, with some of it likely to come in the form of deferred lease payments on various branches. In the past two weeks, the city and county have funded the library’s $8 million sustainability plan at 70% of what was requested. Assuming similar support from the surrounding towns of 70%, the library faces more cuts, something library executives, employees and customers have endured throughout the past two years.

An earlier $2 million cut this spring led to a 39% reduction in operating hours and 120 layoffs, representing 24% of staff positions. With a new fiscal year beginning next month, the library is certain to suffer more cuts. The only remaining question is, how deep will those cuts be?

Read more: Mecklenburg library answers expected soon – Charlotte Business Journal