Last night the Marshalltown City Council met to discuss the $1.57 million shortfall in the General Fund.  Carol Webb, City Administrator, compiled a list of expenses that could be cut and a few ideas to generate a little revenue.  Newly elected Mayor Mike Ladehoff led the council through each line item.  The first was the Library and the $250,000 they are getting from the General Fund due to the state removing the library levy. Library Director Sarah Rosenblum explained what has happened recently due to the levy being removed.

Rosenblum said if the library was cut further, it would cause them to end some services and potentially even close some days during the week.

Eventually City Councilor Jeff Schneider suggested three routes.

After going through all other line items, Councilor Yepez-Gomez, circled back to the Library and asked what level of cuts they would see.  If the Council used the same amount of LOST dollars to balance the budget, it would cover about $1 million.  A 15% and 25% cut to the Library would still leave the city will a small deficit so the Council voted for a 50% or $125,000 cut to the Library.

A one time cut for the Library that was discussed was not hiring a Library Director until the next fiscal year when Rosenblum retires in November.  That will save the Library roughly $94,000, but Rosenblum stated over and over someone would be doing two jobs during that time.  The Council finished the night potentially balancing the budget with a transfer of nearly $1 million of LOST dollars to cover the General Fund.

Zach Tomesch, News Director KFJB