Library funding cuts make no sense at all
What in the world are Skip Alston and Steve Arnold thinking?
Cutting the library budget by $400,000 makes no sense. Libraries provide citizens opportunities to learn, computers for research and communication, newspapers, magazines, books, periodicals, music, movies, books on CD and tape, and informed and pleasant staff who offer help when needed.
Do members of the Board of County Commissioners realize that, for many, including visually handicapped people, the library is their major source of knowledge and entertainment?
Commissioners, please look more closely at the final budget and reconsider your initial intention to reduce the library budget. Taking from the public library seems shortsighted. There must be other areas where those dollars can be found.
And while you are at it, all commissioners need to make decisions for the people of Guilford County. Mr. Alston and Mr. Arnold were not elected to “rule” this county. Commissioners, it is past time to restore the democratic process in this county. Each individual was elected by his or her constituents to represent their needs fairly, so do it.
Lynn Bennett
Greensboro
Comments (4)
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It seems some state and local govts. have finally been sobered by this recession and realize they have to live within their means and are forced to cut some services. Expect many letters from proponents of various services and projects complaining about cuts, as we've already seen with a $150 salary cut for teachers.
The notable exception to this phenomena is the federal govt., which is massively expanding deficits and tosses out a mandate to save a puny $100 million to sugarcoat it. Sooner or later the bill will have to be paid.
Posted on May 14, 2009 8:09 AM
. . . yeah and to think of all the money that was and is being directed to that black sink hole civil wrongs "no-seum" project on Elm Street . . .
Posted on May 14, 2009 9:13 AM
Dan,
Good point.
The federal government can spend all they want cause they can just print new money as needed.
I use the library quite often to check out books for my kids.
This letter makes it sound like this budget cut is going to force the libraries to close their doors to the public.
I'm guessing a $400,000 cut could be absorbed without too much change in services.
Posted on May 14, 2009 11:00 AM
I'm sure there can be good arguments made for not cutting money from many of the programs and services that will effected by budgets cuts. But when the house is on fire there is no reason to buy new pictures to go on the walls or even to wash the windows. The writer seems to be saying ANY cuts in budget for libraries is too much. NEW FLASH! We have got to do something to put the fire out first. I am certainly not one to agree with Skip Alston very often, but I have said for years this county spends to much money and they need to make Guilford Co. a more lean running government, for the sake of the over burdened tax payers.
Posted on May 14, 2009 11:43 AM