Joys of working for the government
The mayor presented the budget proposal for the coming year. Of particular note, it calls for seven of the ten libraries to be open four fewer hours per week. The three smallest branches are spared. Winton Branch, where I work, is the second-largest in terms of circulation.
If this comes to pass, it will be interesting to see where the hours are cut. Patrons are still howling over the elimination of Sunday hours two or three years ago and the two hours cut from Thursday nights last year. Apparently, they’re not howling loud enough to the right people. And since the budget includes a tax increase, my usual snappy retort of “Your tax cuts at work” won’t fly either.
Not reported in this morning’s Daily Fishwrapper, is the status of the Mayor’s pet summer jazz festival. As I recall, there’s several million dollars right there. However, the Philharmonic, Rose Festival, Main Game (a Main Street basketball tournement) and the highway beautification program all get the axe.
I’m hoping my seniority and quality of work spare me from reduction of hours. And fortunately, three of the four other pages are leaving this summer for college. Maybe only two new ones will be hired. We’ll see.
