The local economy will take a mighty hit today. ATK (formerly Thiokol) will layoff 500 people today. Since the eary 1960's the growth of our fair little city has in large part been a reflection of how the rocket plant in the desert was growing. When me moved to town, most of the housing we looked at was built in response to the influx of engineers and other scienctist moving here to work in the companies rocket program. Another housing boom came on the heels of Thiokol recieving the contract for the space shuttle solid rocket motor. Now that the space program is in jeopardy or at the very least in a major overhaul, the company that helped us grow is in real crisis. Funding for the new Ares program will hopefully be forthcoming soon but in the meantime emplyoment cuts will hurt the growth of Brigham City.
The funding for the library is based on property tax revenues, so people losing their jobs and moving or losing their homes could hurt our bottom line as well. During a recession more and more people look to the library as a way to gain information and entertainment, so a loss of tax revenue hurts us at the very time we are needed the most. Here at the library we will strive to continue to provide services like the internet and newspaper subscriptions, which families often cut as the budget tightens.
Even if my husband's job is still intact at the end of the day, my neighbor's may not be. My heart goes out to the families who will be pushed into crisis from this devastating blow to our community.
Michele, Children's Librarian
