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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Expense funding needs and operational challenges
0:30:53
ยท
117 sec
Dennis Walcott outlines the specific funding needs and operational challenges faced by Queens Public Library, emphasizing the need for increased expense funding.
- QPL has an expense need of $13.5 million
- Without these funds, QPL is susceptible to unplanned closures due to staffing and emergency maintenance
- So far this fiscal year, QPL has had 114 unplanned full day or partial closures
- The library is unable to meet the demand for vital programs, services, and library materials
- Critical maintenance is being deferred due to lack of funds
- The total expense need for all three library systems is $44.8 million
Dennis Walcott
0:30:53
We are woefully behind where we should be when it comes to funding.
0:30:58
Last year, we highlighted that in addition to the budget cut, we were facing uncovered increased costs due to contractual wage and health insurance increases, inflation, deferred capital, ineligible repairs that need to hire more staff, and more and more and more and more.
0:31:15
These remain a continuous challenge for us, and we are trying to find ways to meet that challenge.
0:31:22
In total, QPL, Queens Public Library has an expense need of $13,500,000.
0:31:30
Without these funds, QPL is susceptible to unplanned closures due staffing and emergency maintenance.
0:31:37
So far this fiscal year alone, we have had 114 unplanned full day or partial closures due to staffing shortages, maintenance, and infrastructure issues.
0:31:51
We're unable to meet the demand of the vital programs, services and library materials our communities rely on.
0:31:58
I know when I go online to wait for a book, it is a long wait because we haven't been able to invest because the money hasn't been there.
0:32:05
We need the investment for the materials both in the library and our e materials as well.
0:32:12
We're forced to defer critical maintenance as a result of what Linda and Tony talked about earlier.
0:32:19
We need that investment of capital dollars.
0:32:22
Sometimes I don't think, not you the city council, but people in general understand that we are a major building operation in the city with the capital work that's required to upgrade, to respond to emergencies, broken down HVAC systems, broken down boilers, you name it, we face it.
0:32:43
That's why capital investment is so important.
0:32:46
For all three systems, the total expense need is $44,800,000.