Mayor Todd Gloria’s revised budget is out, and the difference from his draft budget proposal is minimal. While restorations have been given to police budgets and the humane society services, unpopular cuts to neighborhood services, including library and recreation center hours, remain.
The San Diego Library has already faced the loss of federal and state funding for library programming. Per the revised budget, $8 million is proposed to be reduced for local libraries.
“We hoped to see the City support its Libraries rather than cut their hours,” said Patrick Stewart, CEO of the San Diego Library Foundation.
The reduction would impact the 37 library branches hours and staffing, however library officals maintain that key programming will remain during the Tuesday-Saturday operaitng schedule.
Moving forward, “we urge our city leaders to commit to building sustainable revenue streams that will safeguard the San Diego Public Library, a cornerstone of the City’s public services,” said The Library Foundation in an online statement.
