The Grand Forks Public Library is seeking a budget increase from the City Council to give employees a pay increase.
Library Director Wendy Wendt told the Library Board last week that, under the previous director, staff pay lagged far behind the market and continues to do so. Some, she said, still earn just minimum wage.
Unlike City Hall staff, the pay of library employees is not the subject of annual studies of compensation for similar positions around the region, meaning their pay isn't adjusted to keep up with peers at other libraries.
The Grand Forks library, like the airport, is an autonomous government entity that doesn't have to follow all City Hall policies.
The proposed budget for 2011 is $2.04 million, up from $1.95 million this year. Of that, salaries and benefits total $945,000, up from $885,000 this year.
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The mayor's already proposed a 1.72 percent wage increase for City Hall staff, and council members didn't appear to object.
The council will discuss the library's budget along with the budgets of other departments as part of a series of budget meetings at 6:30 tonight in City Hall.
Also in the news, the finance committee will review the contract for VenuWorks, which runs the city-owned Alerus Center. The council was ready to vote on it last week, but, because it should've gone to committee for discussion first, most council members decided to wait. The contract gives VenuWorks $175,000 a year with no adjustments up or down for performance, unlike the previous contract.
