Amador County – Amador County Supervisors last week said libraries in the Upcountry would stay open, though hours would be reduced in the new fiscal year budget approved by the board.

In public comment, Ann Christine McGee asked about library closures Upcountry. She said library computers helped people find jobs. Supervisor Chairman Louis Boitano said Pioneer and Pine Grove libraries would not be closed, but hours would be reduced. County Administrative Officer Chuck Iley said the Upcountry library operations would drop to 9 hours a week.

McGee asked if they had any discussions about what supervisors could do to increase revenues to the county, and not just make cuts. Iley said: “We constantly look at increased revenues.” He said he told department heads to reach a certain number for their budget, and they could reach that number by either cutting costs or increasing revenues. He said there is only so many fees you can put on users before you eliminate that use.

Supervisor Vice Chairman Richard Forster said “we are in a mode of cutting right now” and none of us on the Board think that the economy will rebound in the next couple of years. Reserves keep diminishing every year, and our revenue is primarily tax dollars.

Boitano said there was a downward trend in 1994, then there was a recovery and the county ratcheted up staff when it was needed. Lynn Morgan, chair of the Upcountry Community Council read a letter from the council asking the board to keep the library open, so people could use the resources, including computers, to find jobs.

Boitano said the community center underneath the Pine Grove Market has a computer lab, with computers he has purchased with his discretionary funds, which he has done for the last 15 years.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.