PALOS VERDES PENINSULA : Trustees Trim Budget for Library Furniture

Facing decreased revenues and public outcry, Palos Verdes Library District Trustees have voted to cut $336,000 from their furniture budget.

The district originally voted to spend $1.25 million on furniture as part of a plan to renovate the Peninsula Center Library, and $93,984 worth of furnishings already has been delivered.

Earlier this year, the watchdog group Save Our Libraries criticized the trustees for approving the expenditures, which included $274,000 worth of artwork and trash cans that cost $343 each.

Trustees voted on July 21 to cut the remaining money earmarked for furniture to $820,350.

Savings, in part, will come from refurbishing and refinishing existing chairs and tables rather than purchasing new ones. Other chairs will have fabric instead of leather.