Library Funding Flares Again in Budget Talks

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“They’re doing the best they can with what they have available”

The Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on its proposed budget for FY2012 last week. When Commission Chair Bill Simonds opened the floor to public comments on the proposed budget, Library Chair Joe Webb stepped to the podium to address the issue of library funding. But, Simonds was quick to interrupt Webb, reminding him that his comments were more appropriate for the public commentary. Simonds said Webb’s comments did not regard the budget.

When time finally came for public commentary, resident Patricia Groen delivered an opinion on library funding. Groen gave an account of the importance of libraries and discussed how they can benefit society. She then called for an increase in funding to extend the library’s hours of operation, saying extended hours would benefit students and citizens alike.

“Adequate hours at least need to be made available to serve the thousands of people who use the library regularly.”

She said that statistics support that the library should be open 48 hours a week. Groen commended the library staff for maintaining a high level of service to the public despite the constant budget cuts.

“The library doesn’t expect more than its fair share,” she said, “but, it does deserve a bigger share than it’s been getting.”

Following Groen, Mr. Webb and citizen Earnest Arp took the podium to champion the same cause. Webb said that the library was looking for an additional $11, 630 a year, or less than a $1000 a month, which equated to less than an additional 50 cents per year per citizen. Webb said that the state average is $15.44 per person per capita for library cost, while Fannin’s rate is $8.38. In his commentary, Arp noted that in the proposed budget the county is spending $500,000 on the recreation center and $167,000 on the library.

In an ironic rebuttal, father of a prolific author Howard Slaughter said that although he supports the library, it should not be funded by the county. Slaughter suggested that friends of the library should make donations and the library should hold fundraising events to raise the appropriate funds to extend hours of operation. In fact Slaughter commended the commissioners for the excellent job they have done. “

They have operated in a fiscal, responsible manner…They’re doing the best they can with what they have available,”

Slaughter said, reminding the audience that the nation is in a recession.

During the commissioner’s commentary, Chairman Simonds took the opportunity to respond to the criticism of the board. He noted that in 2007 the library budget was $136,000; in 2008, $157,000; in 2009, $166,842, and in 2010 the library budget was $167,000, showing that the county has increased funding for the library and that the county has not neglected the public library. In the proposed budget for FY2012, the library budget is $167,720. In his commentary, Webb made the argument for library funding in terms if equity of services. Webb compared the level of funding increases given to several departments over the past five years. He said that the Recreations Department received a 28 percent increase over the past five years; Animal Control, a 15 percent increase, and Library Services, a 6.5 percent increase. Simonds’ retort to the inequitable distribution of funds was that other departments take priority over the library. The chairman noted that the Department of Public Health, Department of Family and Children Services, North Georgia Mountain Crisis Center, Family Connections, North Georgia Community Action Agency, and the Mineral Springs Center take precedence in funding over the library. Referring to the above organizations, Simonds said,

“These folks over here feed people,” and help people “get their heat in the winter time: I think we need to pay attention to this and they take priority over the library.”

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