Outcry Over Library Salaries

Written by Glen Morrison Thursday, 19 November 2009 12:36

There will have to be some explaining after the Okanagan Regional Library board passed it's 2010 budget.

While the total package amounts to close to 15 million dollars and no branches will be cut or have reduced hours, there are pay raises that are irritating some politicians.

Armstrong councilor John Trainor sits on the board and says there were union pay hikes

"Raises of four percent retroactive to May of 2009, and another four percent in 2010. That works out to about 8.2 % if you compound it over two years when others are struggling to survive."

Trainor also says Executive Director Leslie Dieno's salary is going from $117,000 to $131,000 a year or 11.8 %, and she's been given the authority to boost other non union staff as well.

Trainor had a motion approved at Wednesday's North Okanagan Regional District meeting to have the regional library board chair attend a NORD meeting and explain.

"It's a situation where they're so completely out of touch with what's going on in the real world. It's a real slap in the face for people who are struggling to see public servants giving themselves such large raises."

Trainor says it's probably time the board was restructured, taking away weighted votes.

As for the board's budget decisions, despite provincial cutbacks, next year won't see any real cuts for the Okanagan Regional Library system.

The library board has okayed a 2010 budget that's just shy of 15-million dollars, and has ignored its own finance committee's suggestion that all the libraries close for one week next summer, to save money.

Board members have approved cuts to some speciality programs, and they'll save postage money by no longer mailing overdue notices, if those patrons can be contacted by e-mail or phone.