Oak Lawn Public Library union members plan to raise concerns during next week’s library board meeting about a budget proposal they say could lead to layoffs.
Library board members discussed three draft budgets with proposed levy increases of 2.5%, 3.5% and 4.5% during their Oct. 20 meeting but were unable to reach an agreement on how much to raise property taxes.
After an initial motion to approve the 4.5% increase, which would allow for the fewest cuts, recently elected board member Karrie Mallo asked about reducing staff, according to library union staff representative Carla Williams, who attended the meeting.
Mallo ultimately requested to keep the budget the same as the previous year, avoiding a tax increase. With board member Raymond Schwarzkop absent, Carrie O’Keefe and Joseph Skibinski joined Mallo in voting for no increase, while Kate McDermott, Heather McCarthy and Kim Brightmore opposed the plan. Board members did not respond to requests for comment, and a spokesperson for the library declined to be interviewed.
“We were surprised at sort of the tenor of the discussion — the specific question about cutting personnel,” Williams said. “Libraries aren’t just buildings with books, you know, libraries offer so much more. And so I think we were just very disappointed in the discussion because there didn’t seem to be sort of a recognition of the value of the services that we are providing and the value to the community.”
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 members support the 4.5% levy increase, which would cost the average homeowner about $10 and still lead to cuts in library furnishings and equipment, staff development, security systems, local history and legal fees, according to Williams and the draft budget proposal.
A 3.5% levy increase would cost the average homeowner about $8.02, and a 2.5% increase would cost less than $6, Williams said.
The draft budget proposal states the library would need to cut materials by $50,000 and programming by $6,300 if the levy increases by 3.5% or less.
“We all know in going grocery shopping, paying our bills right now that everything costs more,” Williams said. “Our concern was that by cutting the materials and programming costs and other items, that this might negatively impact our patrons who might need the library more during this time because they don’t have the resources themselves to purchase books and other items.”
Leona Towner, a freelance journalist and Oak Lawn resident, posted a video on social media about potential cuts after hearing that some library staff felt caught off guard by board members’ discussion Oct. 20. She said she’s since reached out to the board members who favored the 0% budget increase, seeking to know the reasoning behind their vote, but never heard back.
“I would hate it if there are conversations going on, there’s no press, and then we go to this meeting on the 9th and things are cut,” Towner said.
The Oak Lawn Public Library Board called a special meeting for 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, at the library, 9427 Raymond Ave., for the sole purpose of passing the 2027 budget and tax levy increase. Williams encouraged library patrons to attend the meeting and speak in support of programming and staff.