Why did Wake County include closing libraries as part of the recommended budget? Why were the Athens Drive and Duraleigh branches selected?

The County analyzed every operational efficiency possible. However, they could not achieve the $1.8 million spending cuts without proposing closing or consolidating facilities, and curtailing or eliminating certain services and staff. They examined library usage and service levels, proximity to another library, ability to receive services online, access for citizens to similar library programs elsewhere and ultimately the cost savings that could be achieved through the proposed reductions.

After the consideration of these factors, the Athens Drive and Duraleigh branches were selected for closure.

Why can’t the County reduce hours at all branches to reduce spending?

The Library could not achieve the 10% budget savings and continue to staff and operate all of our library facilities at a level that would satisfy our customers. Keeping all libraries open, even with drastically reduced service hours, would lead to even greater staff reductions, and the library system is already a lean, cost-effective system.

Why can’t the County buy fewer books and materials to reduce spending?

The County has made every effort to be strategic to keep the materials budget – that is, the collection itself – as protected and up-to-date as possible. That is the hardest aspect of the library system to recover. Currently, Wake County Public Library has the largest book collection in the state (1,712,668 books) and the highest book collection use in the state (10,390,295 items circulated in 2008). A 2008 analysis of Wake County’s Book Collection revealed:

The Wake County book collection is wearing out faster than is currently being replaced because of the high level of customer use.

The current budget, without infusions of books from building new libraries, is not sustainable.

If the branches included in the Department’s reduction proposal do close, will they ever be reopened?

Library Management has identified the cuts for a full year fiscal year (July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010). However, the County will have to see what the impact of the economic downturn will have over a longer term before anyone can say what the future of these facilities and services will be. It is assumed, for now, that the cuts would be for more than one year. Wake County Libraries will provide ongoing communications and maps to library patrons to explain where they can receive the same high-quality library services they now enjoy with minimal disruption, inconvenience or cost.

If the contract with Athens Drive High School is discontinued will students still be able to use the media center?

The closure of Athens Drive High School library only discontinues the contract between Wake County and the school system that allows public access to the library. Athens Drive Library will still function as a standard high school library for students. This means students can still access all of the library’s normal services.

Why is the County closing libraries and not parks?

The budgets for Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS), and Libraries, operate independently of one another. Like other County departments, parks and libraries each proposed ten percent reduction options to the County Manager.

It is important to remember that not every budget will be reduced by the same dollar amount or percent. Decisions will be based on where each reduction proposal falls in the overall County priority model. More information about this process is available under Choices and Trade-offs.
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Human Services

What recommendations did Human Services make to the County Manager to reduce spending in FY 10?

Human Services, like many Wake County Departments, has a very lean operating budget. This means that most of the Department’s spending goes directly to clients’ services and staff salaries. The department reduction options include 67 vacant full-time positions and reduced funding for selected outreach programs. Reductions are also designed to change spending patterns, while affecting citizens as little as possible.

Each division of Human Services developed its own reduction plan. Each plan is divided into three levels– minimal, moderate and significant, impact and includes a description of the reduction and the anticipated impact. The plans are available by Division:

Administration
Operations
Economic Self Sufficiency
Family Support
Community Health
Clinics
Adult Services
Housing
Transportation
Child Welfare
Local Management Entity
Local Management Entity Purchase of Service

How were these recommendations identified?

The Human Services Department formed a Budget Cabinet, lead by Budget Managers, to address budget reductions. Budget Managers are members of the Human Services Senior Management Team charged with increasing accountability and controlling each cost center.

The purpose of the Budget Cabinet is:

To increase accountability and impact by becoming a consumer-focused, data-driven and outcome-based agency.
To respond to the needs of Wake County residents in a timely manner through strategic planning, and effective and efficient use of all available resources.
To manage resources within budget guidelines according to current laws and regulations.

Will citizens see any changes in the services they receive?

The Human Services department provides community health programs and clinics, child and family services, mental health and substance abuse services, economic assistance and affordable housing programs. Some of these services are seeing increased workloads as the economy has slowed. As a result, citizens may experience increased wait times for some county services.

Will the new Continuum of Care facility still open in the fall of 2010? Will the Mental Health Continuum of Care project continue?

This past March, the Board of Commissioners approved the schematic design for Wake County’s Continuum of Care facilities for mental health and substance abuse. This project remains on schedule and will continue in order to open in the fall of 2010.

I have heard that other services and positions may also be reduced. Why is this?

Wake County Human Services receives funding from many sources. In FY 10, many of these revenue streams will be reduced. The chart below shows Human Services budget requests for FY 10 compared to FY 09, and includes $6 million in new funding requests.

Revenue Source Type

FY09 Adopted Budget

FY10 Department Request

Federal Shared Revenue

7,970,568

8,495,218

State Shared Revenue

104,542,999

109,736,427

Local Shared Revenue

1,185,500

1,177,500

Charges for Service

31,245,512

31,589,700

Interest

68,558

23,654

Miscellaneous

26,050

34,550

Total

145,039,187

151,057,049

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Sheriff's Office

How much is the Sheriff’s Department (Public Safety) reduced in the 2010 recommended budget?

Public Safety is a high priority in the County. Our commitment to the wellbeing of our citizens guided the evaluation of the proposals put forth by the Sheriff’s Office, EMS, CCBI, and Fire and Emergency Management.

These departments have very few vacant positions and reducing the level of services these departments provide is not a long-term option. Therefore, Wake County will not be taking any ambulances off the street, detention officers out of the jail, or Sheriff’s deputies out of our neighborhoods or schools.

However, four positions will be eliminated, as well as temporary staffing in the courthouse. The Public Safety departments have also achieved savings through consolidations and contract negotiations.

Reductions in all Public Safety departments total less than three percent.

What impact will these reductions have on citizens?

Of the positions being eliminated, two are in administration, one is in CCBI and one is in Fire Inspections. Temporary courthouse staff support full-time deputies on a daily basis both inside and outside courtrooms. If the temporary courthouse staffing budget is reduced as recommended, there may be fewer deputies in some courtrooms, and fewer deputies near the entrances and exists. Deputies will still be available in all the locations they are now, but some locations will have fewer staff during certain parts of the day.

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Education
Wake County Public School System

How much is the Wake County School System (WCPSS) reduced in the recommended budget?

Last year, the Wake County Public Schools budget was $316.2 million, revised to $310.5 million after the requested 4 percent reductions in the fall of 2008. The 2010 budget recommends $313 million in funding for Wake County Public Schools.

Why did the County decide to reduce the WCPSS budget?

The WCPSS budget is recommended for a less than 1 percent reduction in funding. Essentially, it came down to what the County could afford.

Wake Technical Community College

How much is the Wake Technical Community College reduced in the Manager’s recommended budget?

Last year the Wake Tech budget was $17 million, revised to $16.7 million after the requested 4 percent reductions in the fall of 2008. The 2010 recommended budget proposes the Wake Tech budget remaining at $16.7 million.