Library Board sees $23,000 budget cut

The County of St. Paul Library Board budget is being reduced by $23,000 in 2021.

In 2020, the County of St. Paul contributed $133,954.82 to the library board, which included $37,303 of MSI funding.

In 2021, the library board will receive $110,954.82 from the County of St. Paul. According to county administration, MSI funding will end in 2021.

In discussion, council administration noted the library board had run a surplus in 2020 and council had already agreed to reduce the library’s allocation by $20,000 because of that. Administration recommended a further reduction of $8,000.

Div. 4 Coun. Maxine Fodness and Div. 6 Coun. Laurent Amyotte sit on the library board and advocated against further cutbacks.

Fodness noted that “it’s a pretty keen board,” while Amyotte pointed out that most of the training for trustees takes place in the first year of their three year mandate.

“So it’s possible that next year we could look at some cutbacks. We’ve already cut a big chunk out of it. And if there is any extra, then it could certainly be looked at in next year’s budget to reduce it further. And I mean, if push comes to shove, and we really, really, really need to cut back… $75,000 culvert or a library committee,” said Amyotte.

A motion by Div. 1 Coun. Darrell Younghans to set the contribution at $110,954.82 carried with no further discussion.

The board looks oversees the libraries in Mallaig and Ashmont.