re: Baton Rouge spends nearly the same amount on 14 libraries as St George's entire budget

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bloat and wasted money; a pretty good public library system is not the one to make this point.

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It is an entirely different topic.

I think it needs a good scrubbing, but it has nothing to do with SG and its their mistake for bringing it up.

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Why in the hell do we need so many libraries in 2018? I think we should keep Goodwood and 2 or 3 others and shut down the rest.

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This. I spent some time in Lake Charles and although it isn't Baton Rouge big, about 74,000 residents, they only have two library branches in the city. EBR has a way bigger inventory, but I find it hard to believe they need that many branches.

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You do know that in order to access the internet you need a device, which people receiving government assistance may not be able to afford.

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Find me 10 people in a America under the age of 65 who don't have a smart phone or other internet ready device.

For fricks sake. OUR HOMELESS HAVE SMART PHONES.

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I just looked up the Houston Public Library system budget on houstontx.gov and it's yearly total expenditures are $40,002,998 for 44 branches.

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I've been to a few of the Houston libraries. Is that number stand alone libraries? Some are a part of a community college or museum, etc..

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The report you linked claims only 33 million in expenditures in year 1 which is grossly below other cities of comparable population. Even those listed on the report. They’re also factoring in $0 for police/fire/civil service. Is there an updated budget?

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The SG report shows a couple of cities with more expenses, but more that have about the same or less.

Fire protection would not be a city service, if you know anything about SG you'd know we have fire districts now for protection. It works well, even BR uses it for coverage.

Law enforcement is by the sheriff and there is an amount listed in the budget to supplement the sheriff.

Civil service??? Can't answer that one, but I'm guessing it's a parish wide thing but I could be wrong.

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Obama phone

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Reagan phone.

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it's yearly total expenditures are $40,002,998 for 44 branches.


Including salaries and pensions?

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Yes.

Salary Base Pay, Salary Part Time, Overtime, Premium Pay, Bilingual Pay, Pension, Termination Pay, FICA, Health Insurance, Basic Life, LTD, Workers Comp, and Unemployment.

There are no excuses.

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I'm curious where they got both of their numbers. Are they saying that BR spends $56 million on libraries each year? Also weren't there numerous libraries built in the past few years, are they including those costs as well?

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For a post that claims to be “all about facts” they posted very few. Read the advocate article Here. It’s a good look at the financial gymnastics that are going on.

You think tax payers should be providing streaming music, movies, and games?

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You need a pen and a paper to fill pit a job application. You don't need a library for resume workshops. Nor for interview training.

Any more excuses?

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False. I helped a gentleman for over an hour fill out a job application for one of the chain restaurants up at the Mall of Louisiana. He was applying for a dishwashing position. The manager told him he had to fill out the online application (with the 100 question personality survey), and then the manager would get the completed application from the corporate HR department. More and more companies are going this route and eliminating the paper application in favor of electronic applications, and I believe it is the first way to weed out potential applicants. If you can't work a computer, you probably won't get hired. Anecdotal evidence? Sure, but what you are trying to claim (pen and paper applications) is not accurate in the current workplace, even with low wage positions.

I've dealt with this problem with first hand experience. I know what I am talking about.