LongBeachReport.com | LBReport.com | Funding Fix Found For Library Family Learning Centers (Assumes Budget "Plan A")

(Sept. 1, 2010) -- At the Aug. 31 meeting of the City Council's Budget Oversight Committee, chair/Councilman Gary DeLong described a fix found to maintain funding for LB libraries' Family Learning Centers at current levels.

Councilman DeLong said management's originally proposed $186,000 reduction could be bridged as follows:

City Hall's Technical Services/IT bureau has indicated it can reduce its charge to the Library Services Dept. by $107,000. Workforce Development has come up with $75,000. That leaves $4,500 needed...and the privately run LB Library Foundation has agreed to increase its funding commitment, Councilman DeLong said.

DeLong also noted that the funding fix is part of Plan A, the FY11 management-proposed budget alternative that it says can be implemented if city employee unions agree to modifications/concessions in their current City Hall contract.

Without those changes, city management says the Council would have to make very deep Plan B cuts.

As separately reported by LBReport.com, city management told the same Budget Oversight Committee meeting that it hasn't reached finalized agreements with city employee unions on contract modifications...which prompted Councilman DeLong to say the Council should be told this so it can prepare for Plan B.