The Sioux City Council members will attempt to make some important decisions on the proposed 2027 operating budget, including whether to pare back the city library funding, during a long meeting on Wednesday.
That meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. at City Hall, for substantive discussions on the proposed $259 million budget, which is up one-half of one percent from the current budget of $257.5 million.
Back in February, Council members Rock Bertrand and Julie Schoenherr threw out the possibility of cutting the library budget by 25 percent, or roughly $1 million.
The Sioux City Public Library Board of Trustees on Friday offered a cut of $100,000.
Library board member Jim Wharton said a cut of more than $100,000 to the proposed budget of $3.8 million, he said, "would be difficult, if not impossible, to absorb.”
Wharton noted many passionate supporters of the library have been urging Sioux City Council members to not make cuts that would reduce services, close any of the three libraries or cut personnel.
After Wharton spoke last week, Schoenherr said she expects the council will make a decision concerning the $100,000 cutting proposal on Wednesday. She noted there are lots of pending cuts to be pondered beyond those at the library.
After the meeting Wednesday, a next substantial piece in finalizing the city budget will come in a public hearing on Monday, March 30.
All Iowa cities, counties and school districts in Iowa must set their 2026-27 budgets by April, for spending that begins on July 1.
