Just a reminder that the library reopens today after a systemwide shutdown.
About 700 employees didn’t get paid during the week-long furlough which helped the library meet the nearly $1 million budget reduction this year. Other cuts include layoffs, extending the staff computer replacement schedule and reducing the training budget. (Photo by Laughing Squid.)
The library re-opens today
![](https://www.myballard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-My-Ballard-Tile-Ad-Troop-100.png")
Huh. I had questioned whether the furlough would actually save enough money to be worth it, but (waving my hands, here) 700 * $40,000/12 is more than half a million bucks.
Of course, if library workers have to expect furloughs, some will move to other jobs, and the system will have to hire and train new ones, which costs money… and donors might not be as excited about supporting a 51-week-a-year library system. Still, they gotta do what they gotta do, I guess.
Opening? Really? By all the sounds of it before they did this, the world was gonna end.
We'll the bums will be happy.
I volunteer you to take a week off without pay!
If it's a choice between that or getting laid off, no problem. Sign me up. I'd love a one week stay-cation.
Oh that's right, you think the solution is just one more, teeny weeny property tax increase…..last one, I swear…..and only temporary, I swear.
Right, let's be nice. A week w/o pay is a sacrifice made to save jobs. Some of the employees are happy to do it because they like and appreciate their colleagues and workplace. It is, after all, a great resource that more people should take advantage of.
Wait? Where did i call for a property tax increase?
the money has to come from somewhere….
A big Thanks! to all of the library employees who took it in the shorts so people like me can borrow DVDs, books and music for free for the fiscal year ahead. I hope you had a relaxing or jam-packed week off, whichever you were hoping for….
Exactly when was the last time a government worker took it in the shorts? The good news is that with the library open the bums will be off the street and have a place to shower.