Grapevine information about the library taking a 25% cut and being open only three days a week drew upset patrons on Thursday, March 19, to a library board meeting, where they called the suggestion “outrageous.”

City Finance Director David Lakefield said no such cut has been made in any draft budget, but the administration has been looking into scenarios to illustrate the impact of making severe cuts.

“Our directive is we need to cut $20 million out of the city’s budget. If that holds true, there will be no departments that are unscathed,” Lakefield said. “The entire general fund budget is about $70 million, and the bulk of that is public safety.”

The city’s total 2026 budget is more than $216 million, which includes capital spending, such as the flood protection project; enterprise funds, such as garbage and water that are fee or rate based; and projects funded largely with federal dollars or city sales tax.

JILL SCHRAMM/MDN Minot Finance Director David Lakefield speaks to the Minot Public Library Board about the city’s budgeting process Thursday, March 19.

The city council directed city departments to present spending plans for next year showing 3% cuts to provide a starting point in drafting a 2027 budget.

While talk about huge cuts to the library have been informal and suggested only as part of the administration’s effort to illustrate the impact of cuts, it should get the public’s attention, Lakefield said.

“It’s not anything that’s been decided, but as we’re working through these things, folks need to make their voices heard, because right now, the directive is to reduce taxes. But these are just some of the implications,” he said.

The library board received written comments from patrons who described the library as “a valuable community resource” and “one of the most valuable community assets we have.” The steep cuts were called “deeply concerning” and “short-sighted and capricious.”

“This is one of the best things we have in Minot, and in my opinion, the city council should not be asking you to cut any services whatsoever,” Sherry Heilmann said in speaking to the board.

The library’s current budget is about $2.2 million, up 2.72% from 2025.

The board began initial discussion Thursday on a 3% decrease for next year. A preliminary draft presented the possibility of leaving 1.5 vacant positions unfilled, but it would leave the library without a technology director.

The library board plans to schedule a future meeting for budget discussion. The city council also will be holding meetings on the city budget into the summer. A public input meeting on an adopted preliminary budget typically is held in September. A final budget must be adopted by early October.