HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-07-25 Public Comment - T. Burnett - Re_ library budgetFrom:Douglas Fischer
To:Tom Burnett; Douglas Fischer; Joey Morrison; Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Re: library budget
Date:Wednesday, January 7, 2026 10:54:17 AM
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Dear Tom,
Thank you for reaching out. As Terry noted, as of last night Joey Morrison is now Mayor of
Bozeman. I've cc'd his city email as well as mine - both the best way to reach us for citymatters. I've also cc'd our general public comments email (comments@bozeman.net), so this is
now part of the official city record.
Thanks for being engaged,
Douglas
On Tue, Jan 6, 2026 at 9:41 PM Tom Burnett <burnett.tom@gmail.com> wrote:Dear Mayor Cunningham and Commissioner Fischer:
I tried to submit this comment through the city website, but couldn't find the address/page.All the best,
Tom Burnett
To Bozeman City Commission:
The budget should take into account falling library visitation.
Physical visits numbered 439,036 in 2016, but only 292,134 in 2024. (Data from the Public
Libraries Survey, posted at Montana State Library website.)
Expenses grew substantially over that period.
Operating expenses in 2016 were $1,719,359 and had grown to $3,110,852 in 2024.
Cost per visit was $3.91 in 2016 and $10.65 in 2024, 2.7 times as much.
Why should the budget increase when library use decreases?
Tom Burnett
406-539-7075
Truth in Accounting, a non-profit organization, estimates the U.S. national debt at $158.6trillion as of 2025, with each taxpayer burdened by $974,000. Truth in Accounting includesunfunded liabilities, such as unfunded pension and healthcare benefits.