ESCANABA — It was standing room only at Escanaba’s City Council Meeting Thursday, as members of the public voiced their support of the Escanaba Public Library and pleaded for the council to reconsider slashing its budget to offset a deficit in the city’s general fund.

“You know when people come and they want to come to a new area. They value good schools, recreation, support for families and children and cultural opportunities and our library is certainly a gateway to knowledge and culture in Escanaba,” Escanaba Library Board Trustee Lynn Soderberg told the council.

Thursday’s meeting drew public attention after a document outlining a series of possible budget cuts was given to the council at the April 21 city council meeting. The cuts were suggested by City Manager Patrick Jordan to offset a looming budget deficits in the city’s general fund, which, without adjustments to the proposed budget, would reach roughly $1.02 million in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Another $1.4 million deficit is projected for the 2023-24 fiscal year if the city were to pass the proposed budget as it is and make no adjustment in the next fiscal year.

The contents of the list of proposed cuts was never discussed publicly during a meeting, however members of the Escanaba Public Library Board were alerted that the document included the elimination of a $174,342 transfer from the city’s general fund to support the libraries operations. Eliminating the transfer would slash the library’s operating budget by 40%.

“I plead with you to keep the funding for our library,” resident Val Hickner told the council after recounting her own children’s success leaving the community after being library patrons in their youth.

Eighteen people spoke during the fourth public hearing on the city’s 2022-23 fiscal year budget. Escanaba residents, residents from neighboring townships, and three political candidates — one of whom came from Menominee — lined up while waiting to speak during the nearly 45-minute hearing. support the library’s services and mission. All of the speakers urged the council to reconsider the budget cut.

“Many of the remarks directed to the council tonight remind us of the importance of the library which may tell you in the back of your mind to think well we’re not eliminating the library, the library will continue but it will be functionally crippled, as was mentioned by a prior speaker,” said resident John Economopolous.

Other concerns were raised about the proposed elimination of body cameras in the public safety department and whether or not other groups supported by the city like the Bonifas Arts Center were facing similar cuts.

No decisions were made Thursday on whether or not the library funding will remain intact. A special work session meeting was announced earlier in the day Thursday to discuss all of the city’s potential cuts. That meeting will take place Monday at 9 a.m. and, while not a public hearing, is open to the public. The fifth and public hearing on the budget will be held at the May 19 council meeting. At that time, the council will vote on the document’s adoption.

For additional coverage of Thursday’s city council meeting, see Saturday’s edition of the Daily Press.