BUENA PARK : Trustees Shelve Vote on Library Cutbacks

Patrons of the Buena Park Library are protesting proposals to cut services, saying salaries and perks--not library hours--should be cut to reduce costs.

More than 50 patrons Wednesday night attended the monthly meeting of the library district’s board of trustees, which was expected to vote on reducing library hours from 66 hours a week to 54 hours a week. However, trustees postponed a decision until the next meeting Sept. 1.

The library administration proposed new hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, which drew criticism from patrons.

“We’re attempting to meet the best schedule we can for all the people we serve,” said Colleen McGregor, library director. She said 50,000 people hold library cards.

Trustees, who are expected to come up with their own proposals for new library hours, encouraged the public to submit recommendations as well.

The library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

McGregor said reducing library hours is necessary because of a projected $175,000 loss in property tax revenue from the state this year.

Buena Park’s library district, which is one of two independent library systems in Orange County (the other is in Placentia), receives 85% of its funding from property taxes, McGregor said.

McGregor said that by reducing hours, the library would not have to replace employees lost through attrition, saving about $100,000.

Trustees in July approved a preliminary $1.8-million budget for fiscal 1993-94. However, that budget does not include the anticipated loss in property taxes, McGregor said. The library is estimating it will spend $1 million in salaries and benefits and $214,200 to buy new books and other library materials.

McGregor said additional cutbacks will be determined after the state next month makes a final decision on how much money it will cut.

Patrons questioned the administrators’ salaries and suggested those could be cut to save programs and services.

McGregor, the library’s top administrator for 16 years, said her annual salary is $82,000, excluding benefits.

Patrons also raised the issue of the library’s need to own two cars for employee use.

McGregor said the library spends about $5,000 a year for insurance and maintenance of the cars, which she said are used for business only. She added that she and the maintenance supervisor drive the vehicles home at night for security reasons. “That’s to keep them safe,” she said.