11/02/09 - Gibson County
Gibson County
Library Funding
By: Brandon
Artiles
bartiles@wbbjtv.com
bartiles@wbbjtv.com
6:44 p.m.
Library administrators in
Gibson County are saying that the county's current
budget is violating state law in regards to funding
libraries. In September the commission approved a budget
that cut funding for "non-profit charitable
organizations" in half, and the Humboldt Public Library
and Mildred G. Field Memorial Library in Milan were
included.
Susan Blakely, with the Tennessee State Library and Archives, said including the libraries on that list is not only a misconception but is against state law. "Our public libraries are not a charitable organization," Blakely said. "They are set up as government funded entities."
Blakely added that the county is also violating a "maintenance of effort" contract. "They sign this contract that they will meet the effort from last year in the amount that was appropriated and expended," Blakely said.
The libraries in Humboldt and Milan were each appropriated $10,000 in prior budgets, however the commission voted to cut their funding to $5,000 in the 2009-2010 budget. Blakely said that the library in Milan operated on $222,000 in 2008, with the city of Milan funding $217,000. Blakely acknowledges that budgets are tight everywhere, but said that everyone needs to do their part.
"Libraries are terribly under-funded and these are terrible economic times for a lot of people, we understand that," Blakely said. "We just want to be able to operate and meet everyone's needs."
The County Budget Committee will discuss the issue with Blakely and the directors of the county's three libraries at a committee meeting scheduled for next Monday, November 9.
Susan Blakely, with the Tennessee State Library and Archives, said including the libraries on that list is not only a misconception but is against state law. "Our public libraries are not a charitable organization," Blakely said. "They are set up as government funded entities."
Blakely added that the county is also violating a "maintenance of effort" contract. "They sign this contract that they will meet the effort from last year in the amount that was appropriated and expended," Blakely said.
The libraries in Humboldt and Milan were each appropriated $10,000 in prior budgets, however the commission voted to cut their funding to $5,000 in the 2009-2010 budget. Blakely said that the library in Milan operated on $222,000 in 2008, with the city of Milan funding $217,000. Blakely acknowledges that budgets are tight everywhere, but said that everyone needs to do their part.
"Libraries are terribly under-funded and these are terrible economic times for a lot of people, we understand that," Blakely said. "We just want to be able to operate and meet everyone's needs."
The County Budget Committee will discuss the issue with Blakely and the directors of the county's three libraries at a committee meeting scheduled for next Monday, November 9.