The city of Dallas will keep all its neighborhood library branches open, albeit with reduced staffing and altered operational hours as part of its latest budget proposal. This decision comes as city officials aim to balance the budget without closing any libraries, which had previously been on the table.
Under the new budget plan, 35 library employees will be laid off, contributing to a total reduction of 72 positions across the city’s library system. While five key library locations—Vickery Park, Hampton-Illinois, Fretz Park, Pleasant Grove, and Bachman Lake—will continue to operate seven days a week, other neighborhood branches will be closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Residents are encouraged to participate in upcoming budget town hall meetings starting Tuesday, where they can express their views before the City Council votes on the final budget on September 16.
Denise McGovern from the Friends of the Dallas Public Library expressed mixed feelings about the changes. “Keeping all the libraries open is great. It shows the city listened to residents who wanted to maintain all branches. However, the $3.3 million cut is higher than expected,” she remarked. McGovern emphasized the vital role libraries play in providing information, opportunities, and community connections, and lamented that reduced hours would limit access for residents.
As part of broader budget considerations, the city council’s Government Efficiency committee discussed potential job cuts within the city’s Department of Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, which currently has 38 positions. Councilwoman Cara Mendelsohn, who had previously raised concerns about library closures, indicated that a merger between the human resources and civil services departments might be beneficial.
In addition to library cuts, the Dallas Park and Recreation Department is facing severe budget constraints, proposing cuts including the closure of community centers and reduced park maintenance to address a $13 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.
As the town hall meetings commence, Dallas residents will have the chance to voice their opinions on the proposed budget, with the City Council’s decision expected in mid-September.
