Library doesn’t have funds to build Killona branch

School board member says he won’t give up until branch is built

Although the prospect of getting a Killona library looks like a budget casualty this year, St. Charles Parish School member Ellis Alexander said it’s just not an outcome he’s willing to accept in what’s become a 20-year mission.

“I’m not going to give up until I see that building,” said Alexander, who recently approached parish officials to help fund the project.

Alexander had secured approval to use school property in the area for the structure, but hasn’t been able to line up funding.

St. Charles Parish Councilman Terrell Wilson, who sits on the library board, said there is no money for the project.What Wilson called the library’s rainy day fund is already slightly below what it should be at the same time Alexander wants the Library Board to borrow money for a Killona library.

This is a move that Wilson said he can’t support, even though he acknowledged there are some people unhappy with his decision. Additionally, he felt it was bad timing to approach parish residents for more taxes when he feels they’ve have had enough with more taxes.

“It’s time to kind of reel things in and figure out a way to maintain what we have,” Wilson said.

Library Director Leann Benedict agreed.

The Library Board is committed to the West Regional Library renovation and building a Norco branch that will go to bid early next year, Benedict said.

Next year will be a conservative year for the library system, as well as others reliant on tax revenue with local and state cuts. In August, the Parish Council amended its 2015 millage rate, which the law allows to maintain level funding – but only for levees, road maintenance and recreation – when residents complained about paying more taxes. Others took a budget hit, including the library system.

But Alexander maintained bonds should still be an option.

“I don’t know if they ever thought they could do that but you look at the sheriff’s training center, the council building a community center and the DA adding a new wing – those people don’t save up their money,” he said. “They sell bonds.”

 

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