Press Release posted 10/1/15 – The City of Sierra Madre invites members of the community to participate in upcoming meetings for the Sheriff’s Contract Proposal Review Committee and the Library Services Proposal Committee. The committee meetings, taking place later this month, will provide residents with the opportunity to voice their opinions concerning professional services contracted by the City.
The committees were created in an effort to manage City resources in the wake of a diminishing UUT (Utility User Tax). The tax is set to decrease to 6% from the current 8% on July 1, 2016; the equivalent of a $400,000 reduction in general fund revenue. The UUT makes up the second largest source of the City’s general fund revenue and has already seen a $500,000 reduction from the previous fiscal year.
Lacking additional sources of revenue to replace the lost UUT, coupled with an inflationary growth in expenditures, the City could reach a million dollar deficit in 2016. While Sierra Madre seeks to continue to operate efficiently and maintain the quality services its residents have come to enjoy, the budgetary impact could lead to severe cuts in local amenities including library services and public safety.
The Sheriff’s Contract Proposal Review Committee will meet in City Hall Council Chambers on Monday, October 5, 2015 at 6:00PM. The Committee will be interviewing the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department on Monday, October 26 at 6:00PM. These committee meetings are NOT televised. We invite those unable to attend to submit their questions and concerns via email at: psc@cityofsierramadre.com.
The Library Services Proposal Committee will meet in City Hall Council Chambers on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 6:30PM. The Committee will be interviewing LSSI (Library Systems & Services, LLC) and the County of Los Angeles Public Library as potential contractors at that time. For the latest information on these committees and more, visit the City’s website at: www.cityofsierramadre.com.
Our county is also looking into privatizing and we are against it. Here is the grassroots-non-profit that is working hard to keep our library public and the reasons why we should stay public.
http://kernlibraryadvocates.com/
As a professional librarian (elsewhere), I’m impressed with the SM Pub Lib. They have nearly any book I want and seem to know what titles to order for our community. The staff is helpful and friendly. The computers and printers are in working order. There are always people using various services. Who knows, maybe Los Angeles Pub Lib could do as good a job but I doubt it. How much money would contracting out our library really save?
Library Services Why on earth are you looking to fire a staff that knows the system and the community. Try loosing some of your city council there must be some dead weight there. People rely on the library for all sorts of important things helping with tax forms, job applications as well as school work and study. Seniors use it as do very young. It is a vital part of the community.
Do you think the people running it get paid too much? try doing what they do,on what they make. They are not interchangeable or disposable
shame on you