Newspaper clippings · 2001–2003Estimated date

County librarian warns of possible service cutbacks

City News Service report describes Margaret Donnellan Todd as newly appointed and outlines a preliminary reduction plan. The clipping has no visible publication date.

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY Library system director fears possible cutbacks The director of Los Angeles County's library system said this week that widespread service cutbacks may become necessary if local funding for her department is not increased. "There's nothing extra left to cut" from the departmental budget, said newly appointed Librarian Margaret Donnellan Todd. "The library service curtailment plan was drawn up so the board can get a sense of the number of hours (in service cuts) it would take to balance the budget," Todd said. "It's a very preliminary piece. It's not the final plan." The county library system serves 51 cities, including most South Bay communities. Financed largely by property tax revenues, the system was pinched in the early 1990s when the state Legislature diverted a portion of property taxes for educational use. But the system also depends on money from the county's general fund, the amount of which has held steady while costs have increased, Todd said. Paying for newly negotiated benefit packages for library employees and utility bills that have "doubled and tripled" have set the scene for a funding crisis, she said. Under the plan, which would save a total of $2.51 million, between two and four service hours would be cut at 92 county libraries. — City News Service

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LOS ANGELES CUUNIT
Library system director
fears possible cutbacks
The director of Los Angeles County's
library system said this week that wide-
spread service cutbacks may become
necessary if local funding for her de.
partment is not increased. "There's nothing extra left to cut"
from the departmental budget, said new-
ly appointed Librarian Margaret Don-
nellan Todd.
"The library service curtailment plan
was drawn up so the board can get a
sense of the number of hours (in service
cuts) it would take to balance the bud-
get," Todd said. "It's a very preliminary
piece. It's not the final plan.
The county library system serves 51
cities, including most South Bay com-
munities. Financed largely by property
tax revenues, the system was pinched in
the early 1990s when the state Legisla
ture diverted a portion of property taxes
for educational use.
But the system also depends on mon-
ey from the county's general fund, the
amount of which has held steady while
costs have increased, Todd said.
Paying for newly negotiated benefit
packages for library employees and util-
ity bills that have "doubled and tripled"
have set the scene for a funding crisis,
she said.
Under the plan, which would save a
total of $2.51 million, between two and
four service hours would be cut at 92
county libraries. City News Service