Snapshot: Appropriation & Staffing Changes from 2023 Budget
| 2023 Budgeted | 2024 Proposed | Net Change | Percent Change | |
| Appropriations | $113,371,472 | $117,026,333 | $3,654,861 | 3.2% |
| Positions & FTEs | 1152 | 1152 | 0 | 0.0% |
Departmental Highlights
- The 2024 proposed budget increases the library budget by 3.2%, a higher rate of growth than its historical average and the overall budget growth in 2024. Staffing remains the same as the previous year.
- Overall CPL staffing levels remain consistent from the 2023 budget to the 2024 proposal. Apart from title/level changes, a new Assistant Director of Library Programs and Events position was added, while the Archival Specialist and Project Coordinator titles were each reduced by one position.
- The majority of CPL’s budget (about two-thirds of all appropriations) is dedicated to salaries and wages on payroll. The largest non-personnel expenses are books and materials and construction of buildings and structures.
- CPL’s largest net appropriation increases were personnel-related, in the salary and wages and salary adjustment accounts. Other increases were relatively minor, while the largest appropriation cut was a $600,000 decrease in construction of buildings and structures.
Historical Context
Rahm Emanuel made significant cuts to the public library staff in his first budget, from which it slowly increased over time, with a large number of new positions added under Lori Lightfoot.
From 2011-2023, the department budget grew at an average rate of 4.0% per year. Departmental budgets overall increased an average of 5.9% per year over the same time period, while the total city budget including Finance General appropriations grew at an average rate of 8.2% annually.
The department’s budgeted workforce grew at a rate of roughly 0.2% annually from 2011-2023. Overall budgeted positions for the city remained relatively flat across the same time period, with minor year-to-year fluctuations averaging out to an overall growth rate of -0.04%.
The 2024 proposed budget increases the library budget by 3.2%, a higher rate of growth than its historical average and the overall budget growth in 2024. Staffing remains the same as the previous year.
Staffing
Overall CPL staffing levels remain consistent from the 2023 budget to the 2024 proposal.
Apart from title/level changes, a new Assistant Director of Library Programs and Events position was added, while the Archival Specialist and Project Coordinator titles were each reduced by one position.
Appropriations
Largest Appropriations
The majority of CPL’s budget (about two-thirds of all appropriations) is dedicated to salaries and wages on payroll. The largest non-personnel expenses are books and materials and construction of buildings and structures.
Change from Previous Year
CPL’s largest net appropriation increases were personnel-related, in the salary and wages and salary adjustment accounts. Other increases were relatively minor, while the largest appropriation cut was a $600,000 decrease in construction of buildings and structures.
