Libraries wrestle with possible cuts
Library director says reduced funding will be impactful
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LYON COUNTY -- Lyon County is still a way off from finalizing a county levy and budget for 2027. But proposals to reduce county funding allocations to organizations like public libraries could lead to staff, program or purchasing cuts, area library and city staff said this week.
"It's going to be impactful," said Marshall-Lyon County Library Director Michele Leininger.
At smaller libraries, losing funding is difficult because budgets and staffing levels are lean to start with, said Minneota Public Library Director Jessica Dybsetter.
On Tuesday, the Lyon County Board approved a preliminary 2027 levy which would be an 11.9% increase over 2026. While the county has until the end of the year to set a final budget and levy for 2027, the proposed figures used to reach the 11.9% increase included big cuts to some county funding allocations.
The proposed 2027 budget included $306,000 for the Marshall-Lyon County Library, compared to an allocation of about $412,000 in 2026. The proposed 2027 budget figures also included funding cuts for the Minneota and Tracy city libraries. Each of the libraries were proposed to receive $10,000 in county funding, compared to $20,000 in 2026.
Dybsetter said $10,000 would be a "not insignificant" cut for the Minneota library. The Minneota library only has two regular staff members, including the director, Dybsetter said. If the library had to make budget cuts, they would likely have an effect on things like programming or materials purchases instead of reducing staff hours or positions.
One positive thing for the Minneota library is that it has had strong support from the community and the city of Minneota, she said.
Leininger said the MLCL, the cities of Marshall, Balaton and Cottonwood, and the county have been talking about budget issues this summer and fall. The topic was discussed at last week's Marshall City Council meeting, and Leininger said she brought a list of potential library cuts to the Library Board on Monday.
MLCL receives funding from both the county and the city of Marshall, and Marshall City Council members have voiced support for keeping up the city's funding levels. But county funding cuts could still lead to reducing operations or library staff hours, Leininger said.
"We did briefly talk about furloughs," she said, but there would be complications to doing staff furloughs that would require some advice from the city's labor lawyer.
"My board are very thoughtful people, and they wanted some time to process (the information)," Leininger said.
The budget will be an issue that comes before the library board at its October meeting, she said. Marshall City Administrator Sharon Hanson said city representatives will also be meeting with the cities of Cottonwood and Balaton, where MLCL has branch locations.
"It made sense to talk to everyone who is part of the library operations," Hanson said.
Depending on how soon the county sets a final 2027 budget, MLCL might not make its own final decisions on any cuts until early next year, Leininger said.
Leininger and Hanson said that as the library looks to he future, they would also need to consider whether county funding struggles will go beyond 2027.