Gary Public Library employees have been waiting since November for budgeted 5% salary increases
The 5% cost-of-living-adjustment budgeted for Gary Public Library workers seems more of a mirage now, says staff members represented by AFSCME Local 2760.
Library staff have been waiting since November’s budget adoption to see a bump in their pay checks.
When will staff members see the salary increase, a library employee asked at Monday’s Library Board of Trustees meeting.
“It’s under discussion,” was the answer from board president Lucille Washington, who then moved on to other business on the agenda.
Earlier in the meeting, the board elected new officers for the 2026-27 year. Starting June 1, Jacquese White will become president; Crystal O’Brien is the new vice president, Linda Collins is secretary, and Dr. Washington is treasurer.
After the meeting, Washington and White explained that the salary increases “are pending.”
“The 5% increase was included in the budget but we haven’t approved the spending yet. We’re being cautious,” Washington said.
“We’re thinking about Senate Bill 1 and the trajectory of our spending for the next 5 years,” said White.
Indiana’s Senate Enrolled Act 1 of 2025 delivered what many voters have wanted for years: lower property taxes. On the other side of that is less funding for local governments to provide services to its communities.
“We don’t want to get in a position where we have to be like other government units, putting freezes on some of our operations,” Washington said.
The estimated cost of the 5% COLA is $92,000 a year. The Main Library and its 2 branches are not heavily staffed; in 2025, the library system only had 43 employees on its payroll. According to the union fact sheet, the annual interest on the library’s cash reserves would easily cover the raises.
By the end of April, the annual interest had grown to $57,747. The cash on hand was $4,802,264.55.
AFSCME 962 Indiana-Kentucky Union Rep. Cassandra Stigger has questions for the board and its library director.
“I want to know why they put the salary increases in the budget if they were worried about funding. They didn’t have to do that,” Stigger said. “Hopefully we can get that resolved at our meeting next week.”
“We want to know why they’re holding on to the employees money. Their rent, light and gas are going up. They’re spending twice as much trying to get here,” Stigger said. “And meanwhile, the library is collecting more interest.”
According to the fact sheet, the library staff only numbers 33-34 employees. “Many staff members are performing multiple roles while receiving minimal pay. Employees continue to show up, do their jobs, and support the library, yet struggle financially. The concern is not about leadership salaries, but rather about ensuring all staff earns a living wage.”
Local 2760 President Leora Carr wants the increase retroactive to November when the board adopted the budget.
