Hickenlooper Removes $910,000 From Budget Cuts After Pressure From City Council; Library To Stay Open

In a press release this morning, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, announced that the city would eliminate $910,00 from budget cuts that had been proposed in September. The extra money will be used to keep the Byers Branch of the Denver Public Libraries open, and will allow other library branches to maintain current hours.

From the Denver Post:

The additional library funding will allow the Byers branch to remain open and operate for another year, the mayor said in a press release.

In addition, the mayor said he will scale back his plans to finance homeless programs out of the general fund next year to help reverse some budget cuts in his original budget. He now plans to spend $1.25 million from the general fund on homeless programs next year. He originally planned to spend about $2.25 million.

Hickenlooper's proposal to shut down the Byers Branch triggered an impassioned response from the La Alma neighborhood, represented by City Councilwoman Judy Montero.

From the Denver Daily News in September:

Councilwoman Judy Montero, whose district includes Byers, is leading the fight against the library's potential closure. She is holding a meeting on the issue at the library, 675 Santa Fe Drive, this coming Saturday at 11 a.m.

"It's our moral obligation as a city to keep the library open," Montero said. "It's the heart and soul of the community."

The budget is expected to be finalized by early November.