Enlarge Gerald Terrell, Tim McLeod and Elsie Garner discuss ways the community can respond to budget cuts.

Posted: March 30th, 2010 Greg Lacour

Mecklenburg County’s recent decision to cut hours and services across its library system brought home an unpleasant truth to residents: Government revenue has shriveled in the recession, and public officials are having to decide what we’ll all have to do without.

That in mind, Crossroads Charlotte on March 30 hosted “A Community Responds: Cuts, Closures and Access,” an information and discussion session that drew about 75 people to First Presbyterian Church uptown.

The purpose was to present people with the facts about Mecklenburg County’s declining revenues and accompanying cuts in service, then allow participants to ask questions and contribute ideas about how individuals and the community at large can cope with what presenters called, “the new normal.”

It’s not pretty. County Budget Director Hyong Yi, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Chief Academic Officer Ann Clark and library system Director Charles Brown laid out specifically how deep the revenue losses have been and how severe the expected cuts will be in the coming fiscal year and beyond. (Yi’s and Brown’s presentations are available for download here.)

“We don’t see this changing … for two to five years. That’s why this idea of sustainability is so important,” Yi said. “In a situation where there are no good choices, what choices would you make?"

Initially, the county’s Library Board decided to close 12 branches, half its total, to make up for its budget shortfall. The public response was ferocious enough for board members to change their minds, opting to keep all branches open—but with severe cuts in hours, staffing and programs.

“Charlotte has been such a strong community for so many, it’s been easy for us to get complacent,” said Darrel Williams, co-chair of the Crossroads Charlotte steering committee and a member of the Library Board. “This has been a wake-up call for all of us.”

The attendees were asked to divide into groups of seven or so and discuss two questions: “How are you personally impacted by cuts, closures and access?” and “What are our individual and collective opportunities to take action or respond to issues related to cuts, closures and access?”

“I have a daughter in the school system, and I have great concerns about what’s happening,” said Demeata Robinson. “She spends a lot of time at ImaginOn and the library. That’s her passion. Those are things we can do that are educational and not expensive.”

Robinson said she volunteers and tutors at West Mecklenburg and E.E. Waddell high schools, suggesting that the school and library systems could dip into a large pool of skilled but unemployed adults to help maintain services. Several others offered volunteering as at least a partial solution.

“You can say, ‘Well, I don’t have a kid in school, I don’t care. Or I don’t use the library, I don’t care,’” said Jessica Garon. “But you can’t not care anymore.”

James Jackson nodded his agreement. “’Cause it’s going to affect you,” he said, “one way or the other.”

Photos: James Willamor, Willamor Media

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