Miami-Dade Libraries in Jeopardy

By Jason Boog 

The Miami-Dade County Commission has decided not to raise the property-tax rate this year, their vote paving the way for major library cuts.

We haven’t been able to find organized online support for these librarians yet, but we will share them. The Miami Dade County commission has this contact page and Miami-Dade County mayor Carlos Gimenez has this feedback zone on his official site.

The Miami Herald had the scoop:

Under the worst-case budget-ax scenario, nearly half of the county’s 49 libraries — 22 — would be shut down, and six fire-rescue units, out of 139, would be eliminated. In addition, 251 library employees and 149 fire-rescue workers would be laid off. Among the libraries on the chopping block is one regional facility, in West Kendall.

A WPLG Local 10 video report (embedded above) included this quote from mayor Gimenez (photo embedded above): “People have said that the age of the library is probably ending … The people of Miami-Dade County do not want their tax rates raised.”