My Northern Wisconsin

Covering Ashland, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Vilas Counties


PROPOSED INCREASES IN LIBRARY WORKERS' PAYCHECKS MAY CAUSE CUT IN BOOK BUYING BUDGET


   

The Phillips Public Library is holding a meeting tonight, Thursday, October 27, 2022.  Larger items on the agenda for discussion and action are the 2023 library budget, nine more "challenged" books, and the election of library board officers.

The 2023 library budget will be up for discussion and action.  At a prior meeting, Director Rebecca Puhl presented the idea that she and the staff should be entitled to raises.  She cited flexibility of staff during COVID-19, learning new technologies to engage new patrons virtually, wearing masks to follow COVID-19 procedures, and getting through a major building project without cancelling services for more than two days as some of the reasons she and the staff deserve raises.

She also stated that local fast food restaurants and convenience stores have starting wages of $15 per hour, that the crossing guard at the City of Phillips makes $18 per hour, and that other city employees make far more money than the library staff.  Director Puhl stated that three other department heads for the city will be making $5,500 more than her next year.  She stated that the City of Phillips' workers serve a population of about 1,600 people whereas the Phillips Public Library serves a population of about 8,000 people.

Director Puhl also stated that the library budget can handle the increases and stated that there has not been an increase to the library budget in the last ten years.  Therefore, she noted the library has cost taxpayers exactly the same for the last decade.

Employees were named by Director Puhl with lists of reasons why she and they are assets to the library and should, therefore, be given raises.

To increase pay, however, the amounts allocated for budgeted items will need to be reconsidered.  There are three budget proposals on the table.  One proposal is that book budgets be reduced from $16,000 to $11,000 yearly for adult books and from $16,000 to $12,000 for youth books.  Taking a smaller hit would be other budget items, such as various library supplies.  It is possible that well over $15,000 in budget cuts will be made to various categories.  A budget will most likely be chosen and approved at the October 27, 2022 library board meeting.

Nine "challenged" will be discussed and action will be taken at the October meeting.  The titles include "Calvin," "Different Can Be Great," "Dress Up Day," "Everything You Say About Me That's Wonderful is True," "From Archie to Zach," "Heather Has Two Mommies," "Love, Violet," "Papa, Daddy and Riley," and "Stella Brings the Family."  "It's Perfectly Normal" is slated to be discussed at the November meeting.

You can attend the meeting via Zoom or in person at 5:05 p.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2022 in the Council Room at City Hall.  The Zoom information is as follows:

Click here for the Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 865 5072 4086
Passcode: 416625

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The following "ad" was created by The First Presbyterian Church of Phillips and is not part of the above article.

   
The First Presbyterian Church of Phillips, https://www.PhillipsPresbyterianChurch.com, extends their appreciation for Pastor Matthew Arneson in October, during Pastor Appreciation Month, and every month of every year.
(This post was last modified: 10-27-2022, 05:18 PM by My Northern Wisconsin.)