Amid a backlash from community members, cuts to the Amarillo Public Library system in the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget have been removed.
City staff and members of the City Council had considered reducing hours at the library branches in North Amarillo, East Amarillo, and Northwest Amarillo. No cuts were considered for the library locations in downtown or in Southwest Amarillo.
Staff cuts at the library were also considered as an option by the City Council.
Multiple members of the North Amarillo community attended this month's Library Advisory Board meeting to protest the cuts. One community member attended the City Council meeting last night and said that the proposals "smack of discrimination." There was also a push-back on social media.
After the backlash, the City has decided to withdraw the cuts from the budget, according to City spokesperson Jesse Patton.
"The cuts were considered, but were taken out," Patton said, "So, there are no cuts to library hours."
Mayor Ginger Nelson also said at last night's meeting that the cuts have been taken off of the table for this budget.
A spokesperson from the Amarillo Public Library was unavailable for comment at the time of this story's publication.
