Library approves Christmas, mid-year bonuses for full and part-time workers
The Forrest City Public Library board this week discussed and the library’s budget for next year as well as holiday bonuses and a new memorial account.
Library director Arlisa Harris told board members that raises and a new bonus schedule have been added to the library’s 2024 budget at the request of Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant.
"I added line items to the budget to account for raises in salaries and bonuses at the mayor's request," said Harris. "Our budget is balanced. With the increase in pay and also adding the bonuses made a $6,456 difference in the budget. I am going to be working diligently to make sure there is enough money in here, whether it be grants or something. I know that grants are not guaranteed, but I will be working on it."
Harris said there will now be two scheduled bonuses for employees next year with one being a Christmas bonus and the bonus being given in the summer.
"I wanted to put this in the record officially," said Harris. "You all voted to give library staff holiday bonuses. I just wanted it to be officially in the minutes. I received a letter from the mayor's office asking us to include a $1,000 Christmas bonus and a $1,000 summer bonus for all full-time employees with a $500 bonus for all parttime employees. The letter also asked that we increase starting pay to a base rate of $14 per hour for full-time employees and $12.50 per hour for part-time employees."
"The thing about a budget is that it is a something that we work off of," said board chair Lindsay Hodges. "Things are going to come up that we didn't foresee. Things are going to cost more and some things will cost less."
"Exactly," said Harris. "I am looking into a grant to replace our windows to help lower the cost of utilities. There is a grant specifically for that."
"I am a bit concerned about the bonuses, but we really have to do it," said board member Sandra Wright.
Harris also told the board that library officials had recently been contacted by the daughter of the late Mary N. Threat to make a donation and request that a memorial be placed at the library for her mother.
"I was contacted by Sherry Threat and she said that she wanted to do a memorial for her mother, Mary Threat," said Harris. "She said she had fond memories of coming here as a child, even riding her horse here back in the 50s. They wrote us a check for $5,000 and asked how we could use it. We decided to