Florida: “Miami-Dade will Raid Reserves to Avoid Library Layoffs, Maintain Hours”

Updated: More Coverage from the Miami New Times, “Librarians Spared the Axe at Miami-Dade County Budget Hearing”
From the Miami Herald:

In a surprise last-minute move, Miami-Dade commissioners decided in the wee hours Wednesday morning to raid rainy-day reserves to avoid laying off 169 library workers and slashing library hours in the coming budget year.
Though the action will save the jobs of employees who turned out in force to a public hearing that began Tuesday afternoon, it will create a whopping $20 million budget hole next year to fund the county’s 49 public libraries at the same level as this year.
Mayor Carlos Gimenez warned against tapping the one-time reserves, since they would not be available again to cover recurring expenses. Unless Miami-Dade overhauls the way it funds and runs the libraries between now and next year, commissioners will have to cut services or hike the property-tax rate in 12 months.

For Much More, Read the Complete Article (1450 Words)
See Also: Here’s a Note that the Co-Organizers of Save the Miami-Dade Libraries, Andrew Herridge & Vanessa Reyes-Herridge, Sent to the Group’s Mailing List Early This Morning

We would like to take this moment to say a special thank you to the thousands of supporters who have dedicated their time and energy through hard work and sleepless nights in making this moment possible. Ranging from library staff to citizens of Miami-Dade, to supporters from 44 different countries; none of this could have happened if it was not for your shared love for the libraries. In addition, we must thank the commissioners who voted to grant a reprieve for the library system. As library supporters, you helped save a system!

See Also: This infoDOCKET Post Includes Links to Some of Our Coverage of the Miami-Dade Story

Filed under: Funding, Jobs, Libraries, News, Public Libraries