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03/14/2018 08:00 AMThe Board of Selectmen cut to the Scranton Memorial Library budget is a destructive and unnecessary measure. The library comprises 1.5 percent of the overall town budget, but this disproportionate $300,000 reduction represents 24 percent of the library’s operation, only saving the overall town budget less than half a percent. The cutback was decided without consulting the library as to its impact.
Each library dollar spent returns $5 in value. Consequently, the damage of each dollar cut is amplified five-fold. The library has given the town service plans and projections for Fiscal Year 2018-’19 at an unprecedented level of detail, well beyond that asked of any other department. The town should respect the judgment of the library board and its director, and trust in their proven capabilities and proposed budget. Library service and budgeting has been consistently in line with professional best practices. Public support bears this out.
First Selectman Tom Banisch stated on Jan. 25, “In general the town is in great shape,” with a $1,717,000 surplus. Even factoring the Education Cost Sharing loss Madison might sustain from the state, the budget picture is hardly dire. Yet the town boards’ message in budget workshops has been that finances are grim, and deep cuts are necessary.
No other town-funded entity is facing cuts. At worst, increases will be denied, or in some cases funding increased. I therefore have concerns that there’s more than money behind this disproportionate de-funding. The math does not compute, nor does the human toll this will exact on both patrons and on the numerous staff who will lose employment.
Demand for services will continue during the library renovation, and neighboring towns cannot be expected to provide services that are Madison’s responsibility. Restoring library cuts is the right decision.
Thomas Piezzo
Madison