Carlsbad library board endorses FY24-25 budget submission, notes two vacant positions proposed for elimination

The Carlsbad Library Board of Trustees voted unanimously May 22 to send a letter of concurrence to city council supporting the library's FY24-25 budget submission.

Fiona Everett, senior management analyst for the Library and Cultural Arts Department, told trustees the department's current maintenance and operations budget is about $1.9 million and that a $170,000 request in the submission would raise that line to just under $2.1 million. "That $170,000 was discussed with city council earlier in the year and supports increasing the TGIF concerts in the park from six to nine," Everett said.

Everett also summarized proposed personnel changes in the city manager's package. She said the city manager's January memo proposed reducing 12 positions citywide and that two of those positions are in the library's submission. "They are both vacant positions. We haven't filled them," Everett said, identifying the roles as a second production technician (to support meeting-space rentals and programs) and a lead librarian for the Carlsbad history collection. She added that because the positions are vacant, "no people will lose their jobs" if council approves the eliminations.

Everett walked trustees through other priorities in the submission, including capital projects: the Shulman Auditorium audio/visual/lighting upgrade (demolition of existing systems begins July 1) and a proposed upgrade to the library's RFID circulation system that staff said has reached end of life.

Trustee Moran moved that the board support the staff budget submission and approve the draft letter of concurrence; a trustee seconded. The motion passed 5-0. Everett said staff would forward the letter to city council ahead of the council's June 18 budget adoption meeting.

Next steps: city council will finish the budget adoption process on June 18 and the new fiscal year begins July 1. The board's concurrence is advisory; final decisions on personnel eliminations and the $170,000 request lie with the city council and the broader budget process.