For now, the Verdi Library will remain open after the Board of Trustees Wednesday voted on future budgeting, to have it operate two times a week, rather than the current three days.
Two other locations Duncan-Trainer and Incline Village will lose six hours per week. The library board is also asking for 10% of final expenditures to be used for books.
These budget requests still need to be approved by the Board of County Commissioners after local voters in the last election cycle declined to continue an automatic transfer of still existing property taxes into library coffers.
One board trustee Gianna Jacks said she wanted more future discussions on possibly reducing staff to save money.
Assistant County Manager Dave Solaro who has been put at the helm of our county’s library system while a new permanent director is found said new leadership will be important to clearly delineate future budgeting.
Jeff Scott resigned in April after uproar from right wing activists concerning previously held drag queen story hours at local libraries and confusion about future budgets, and has yet to be replaced.
Public speaking was tense and highly politicized at last night’s meeting as has become the norm.
Photos and reporting by Josue Ponce