"We can't go above last year's budget," Mayor Vic De Luca said at Saturday's TC budget hearing, which included a lengthy discussion of the library portion. "And there may be additional cuts coming based on further action we have to take."

The library, which is governed by the Library Board, had requested an increase to slightly more than $2 million. But TC members, who have already authorized layoffs and a summer furlough program for other departments, chose to keep it the same, for now.

"I think the library should be treated as close as possible to other departments," said Vice Mayor Kathleen Leventhal. TC member Lester Lewis-Poweder, agreed: "We should look at keeping it flat, maintaining the operation at the level we have."

Contacted Sunday, Library Board Chair Karen Pettis declined further comment. "Whatever we do will be a board decision," she said. The Library Board meets Wednesday.

While the TC authorizes funding for the library, its own budget also includes other revenue. The library board is the governing body that determines how library funds are spent. It would be up to that group, not the TC, to decide if library spending cuts are to be done.

"Maybe they have to look at doing some of the same things we are doing with the town," TC member Gerry Ryan said about the library. "All we do is give them money, it is run by the library board."