How many layoffs do Timberland libraries plan amid ‘crisis?’ Board wants to know
The number of layoffs required to address a budget shortfall at Timberland Regional Library, which serves a five-county region, including Thurston County, still needs to be determined, library officials said at a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday.
The online gathering lasted more than three hours and was observed by around 200 people at one point. Attendance was high because the library system announced late last month that it was proposing cuts to address a budget shortfall of $3.8 million — a deficit largely created by flat revenue and higher expenses.
Among the proposed cuts: $1.8 million to the library’s collections budget and reductions in workforce that are set for May 1. Lewis County Trustee Brian Mittge inquired about the number of layoffs during the meeting and also tried to zero in on what that number might be.
Library officials said they still do not know — they are meeting with the library’s union this week — but they are trying to keep those cuts to a minimum.
“We’re trying to make a plan that will not decimate our district for one and the staffing throughout, and we’re trying to make a plan that leaves libraries accessible to the public,” said Andrea Heisel, library services director.
Some people have already come forward to leave voluntarily, said Kandy Seldin, human resources administrator.
“What we thought we would do, knowing that layoffs were going to be needed, is to see if anyone wanted to volunteer, maybe someone who’s going to be retiring soon, or someone that’s looking at a career change, or for whatever reason they would want to volunteer,” said Seldin. “And so that is going on right now through the end of this week, and I’ve gotten eight or nine, I believe, at this point, that have indicated they’re interested.”
Timberland’s Finance Administrator Paige Preston explained that 68% of the budget is devoted to salaries and benefits, another 16% covers books and materials in its collection and that final 16% covers everything else: professional services, supplies, insurance and utilities, she said.
Executive Director Cheryl Heywood, who joined Timberland in 2012, said the library system has been trying to build a sustainable budget for years. Full-time equivalent staff has been reduced to 243 from 310, the deputy director position has been left unfilled and technology has been used to create efficiencies, she said.
Yet one of the library’s biggest revenue challenges — a challenge felt by many local governments — is that Washington state law caps annual property tax increases at 1%.
Instead of cuts, some have suggested the library pursue a levy lid lift to generate additional tax revenue, but the last one Timberland tried in 2009 cost $350,000 to be put on a special election ballot, and then failed, Heywood said.
Around the same time, salaries and wages paid by Timberland had fallen behind its peers, so there was later a board-approved effort to pay them more, she said.
Seldin said the lowest possible wage at Timberland is now $25.03 per hour.
“I just want to make sure that everybody listening realizes that we do value all of our staff,” Seldin said.
Trustee Mittge also asked what a $1.8 million cut to the library’s collections would look like.
Library services director Heisel said it would likely result in a little increase in the hold times for popular items.
“And we’re going to limit how many of the popular items we’re purchasing just because of the cost of those things,” she said.
Public comment
About 20 people spoke during public comment, all of whom spoke out about the proposed cuts, including union representative Naomi Bell of AFSCME 3758-B, which represents workers at Timberland.
Bell expressed dismay at the proposed cuts because during union negotiations last fall, they were repeatedly told there was no plan for layoffs and that the budget was stable. And then suddenly they were presented with a budget in crisis, Bell said.
“This is unacceptable and must be halted,” Bell said. “You, the Board of Trustees, should stop these layoffs from happening. The sudden turnaround and hurried plan is an indication that the library administration is not equipped to address the situation. We believe there should be an investigation into the budget process to identify how it was mismanaged, and to look into the competency of library leadership and making budget predictions.
“This mismanagement will have deep impact on our public services if trustees approve layoffs and staffing changes,” she said. “Don’t balance the budget on the backs of front-line employees. We call on the board to stop these layoffs until an independent investigation is completed into what went wrong in the budget.”
Pacific County resident Skyler Walker, who uses a Timberland branch in Ilwaco, recalled how disappointed the community was when the branch there was renovated and covered up a beloved mural.
It was money the library system did not need to spend, she said.
“I know you can’t go back and change that, but it wasted so much money on things that we didn’t need, and we don’t like,” she said. “Don’t let this happen again.”
The board did not take action on the budget. The next regular meeting of the board is set for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25.
