Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Gwen Harrison (pictured) told many success stories to aldermen during Thursday’s budget hearing. But the director of Lincoln Library also said she’s under-resourced compared to peers.

“Given our population of 114,000-plus, we are woefully below the (full-time equivalent staff numbers) of our sister city libraries,” Harrison said during her budget presentation to aldermen Thursday. “In comparison, our expenditure per capita is less than half that of Champaign Public Library and Urbana Free Library.”

That said, allowing that actual books will never go away, “digital circulation is on the rise and has increased significantly since Fiscal Years 21 and 22. Programming remains at the heart of Lincoln Library. The number of programs and attendance is rising.”

Also, the consolidation several years ago of city garages is no longer realizing a savings, according to Ald. Ralph Hanauer. Take oil changes, for instance: “You can go to any place and get synthetic oil on a regular car, and it’s a hundred bucks, probably less than that, and they are being charged four, five hundred dollars,” said Hanauer. Other problems Hanauer and other aldermen cite include long waits for parts and service, putting police cars and fire trucks out of commission that whole time. Ramona Metzger, director of the city’s Office of Budget and Management, said she has hired a new fleet manager to look into this.

The city’s final budget workshop is Thursday, Jan. 22. The new fiscal year begins March 1.