Joe Webb’s Letter to Commissioners

To: Fannin County Board of Commissioners November 12, 2012
From: Board of Trustees, Fannin County Public Library
RE: 2013 County Budget, Workshop Input, 11-13-2012 The State of Georgia Regulations for funding the staff of our Fannin County Public Library requires the sustainability of Local Governments paying these salaries. This financial responsibility presently is mostly our County Government’s. The Public Library has not had a budget increase in 5 years.

Currently, County Funding only pays for 30 hours open per week. The Fannin County Public Library is currently open 48 hours a week. Extra 18 hours is supported by Donations raised by the Board of Trustees. Previously, in 2010 and 2011, the Friends of the Fannin County Public Library funded the shortfall. This funding is an exception to State Policy and is not sustainable by state definition.

Unless funding is available at least one quarter in advance, the public Library will be closed accordingly. The Library has asked for a $30,000 increase for 2013 from the Fannin County Government. Without this increase:
1. Beginning January 1, 2013 the Public Library will be closed every Wednesday for all of 2013.
2. Beginning April 1, 2013, the Public Library will be closed the whole third week of each month for the remainder of 2013

In effect, our full time staff member will have 100 days of furlough per year. As Library employees are paid lower than County employees, it is doubtful that we will be able to retain qualified staff.

Fannin County’s Public Library is well below the quality of Public Libraries in Townes, Union and Gilmer counties.

What is the Economic Development and Jobs impact of sub-standard public library? What is the Economic Development impact of closing our Fannin County Public Library on Wednesday and one week a month?

We respectfully request our originally submitted budget.

For the Board of Trustees,

Sincerely,

Joe Webb
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Fannin County Public Library

Cc: Board of Trustees
Donna Howell, Regional Manager
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