Parks, Libraries Cut Hours; No Money for Paper Ballots

Both Metro Parks and Libraries are cutting hours to deal with budget cuts.

Branches will have reduced hours and the downtown library will close at 6pm to handle the Library system’s 1-point-3 million dollar cut. Director Donna Nicely says the downtown facility will also be closing on Mondays.

“I don’t think our numbers will go down in terms of visits. I just think people will come other days. I hope, I just hope we won’t lose them.”

The library system will be cutting 9 staff members while the Parks department is losing 52 filled positions. Several council members were concerned that the Parks department is also reducing the number of times it cuts grass, and that it’s reducing hours at some park facilities.

The Davidson County Election Commission also had its budget hearing with the Metro Council yesterday. Election Administrator Ray Barrett says his department is making due with its budget for next year, but did say the city could have to find 600-thousand dollars for a new paper ballot system.

State legislators passed a bill last session requiring paper ballots for the 2010 elections, though there is a separate bill currently moving through the legislature that could push the deadline to 2012.