Cobourg Library Will Cut 13 Hours with Proposed Budget
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The Cobourg Public Library Board approved a proposed 2026 budget Wednesday at its September meeting, adhering to a Strong Mayor Powers directive, but not without cuts to service.
Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland issued a directive for the library not to exceed a budget increase ask of up to 3% to be considered. The Cobourg Police Service received a similar directive, but not to exceed a 4% increase request and the directive to town staff for the overall tax levy increase has a target not to exceed 5%.
Library CEO Tammy Robinson told board members the drafted budget requests the full 3% limit imposed. With rising costs she spoke about at the August meeting, Robinson said the ask would have been higher to maintain the status quo level of service, but another $107,000 would be need to meet that need.
While board members spoke in August of considering two draft budgets – one with the directive and the other the total cost to operate with no changes – for submission this month, Robinson only presented the 3% option, noting it was important to respect the mayor’s directive.
In doing so, Robinson said the library would need to cut 13 hours of service. The plan starting in 2026 would be to close all day Monday (eliminating 10 hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.) and part of the Saturday shift (three hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and be open 1 to 5 p.m., the same as Sunday.
Robinson plans to send a synopses to the mayor’s budget committee, but is unsure if it will be considered.
The library’s draft budget for Hamilton Township was also discussed, with a 3.96% increase request operate the branches in Bewdley, Gores Landing and Cold Springs.
Robinson said the number was originally higher, but staff had positive discussions with Deputy Mayor Larry Williamson, who sits on the library board, and treasurer Nusrat Ahmed and were able to find some savings. The plan was to open the new Cold Springs branch for an extra day in 2026, but are keeping it at one day a week from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays. There is still added cost to the one day in the form of a unionized staff member, which the township hasn’t had to pay for during a trial period since the Cold Springs branch opened in July.
The budget increase ask comes with no service cuts to Hamilton Township. In fact, it’s three hours of extra service with the addition of Cold Springs compared to the budget request to the township a year ago.
Robinson pointed out that while there is an overall budget, the library presents separate budgets to Cobourg and Hamilton Township for what it costs to operate in each municipality.
In Cobourg, Robinson said the mayor has until Feb. 1 to present his budget and said if nothing is finalized prior to the start of the new year, the new reduction of hours will need to be implemented starting in January regardless.
Board members agreed communication with patrons about the change of hours well ahead of time will be important.
