East Baton Rouge’s parish library for the mayor’s tax, MILLAGE – WBRZ suggestions

Baton Rouge, the East Baton Rouge parish library, issued a statement that responds to the proposal of the mayor, President Sid Edwards, to take from his financing to increase the pay of Baton Rouge police, refuting his allegations that the library has an excess.

Edwards said the library has a “budget surplus” from “years of overcoming citizens” in a press release sent on Thursday. However, the library denies that it has excess.

“The mayor’s press release, which declared the resolution, included budget information about the library. It is incorrectly stated that the library has an excess of $ 114 million. The library has no surplus,” the library said.

The library said they had an estimated balance of the terminating fund of over $ 92,000,000, which is the entire operational budget for next year. The library also stated that the balance of the fund contains certain funds for approved projects to improve the capital, which is necessary as the library does not borrow or bake money.

In addition, the library denied the mayor’s statement that the budget of the library “significantly exceeds the national average”, saying that the parish system, which is open seven days a week with “expansive hours”, cannot be compared to library systems that They don’t work seven days a week with these hours. He warns that if the library is swallowed back into the general fund of the city, the library “will probably have to return the hours and days our libraries are open.”

The East Baton Rouge Library System also said it is currently funded entirely from a 10-year, specialized property tax and offers a renewal of 10.5 mills, which is lower than the previous years than 11.5 mills. This proposal will be submitted At the Subway Council meeting on Wednesday.