By james art 
Baton Rouge, La. (First Louisiana)-President Mayor Sid Edwards said he wanted to allow voters to decide to move funds from the parish library system to the October General Fund in October.
Edwards has launched a proposed plan on February 6, which will redirect $ 114 million from the library tax in the General Fund. His proposal included increased pay for police officers and the allocation of money for economic development and infrastructure. If adopted by the Metro Council, it will be on the October election newsletter.
“This is not the money of the library. The money belongs to the people of Baton Rouge. This is their money and they deserve the right to decide what they will do with it. I made a commitment to fund the library with the highest percentage of each library system in Louisiana, “Edwards said.
The president of the library system said they were “blinded” by the proposal in a statement on February 8, saying that this would change all operations, force a scale when buying books and e -books, and reducing community programming.
Edwards said there are no services or hours from the library system Tuesday. He also compares the annual funding of the Library in East Baton Rouge with $ 35 million with $ 38 million to Nashville and $ 48 million to Dallas.
“Have no against it. There is currently the library. There are many things in Baton Rouge. But even I say that this is a separate entity. We just have to redirect, rethink ourselves, reconfigure and let people decide what they want to do, “Edwards said.
The EBR Library misses a deadline for a proposal for tax renewal, aims to do so for a vote in November
Community meetings give people a chance to ask questions
Residents of North Baton Rouge attended a public meeting on Monday, organized by Council members to discuss Edwards 10-year proposals. Residents have expressed concerns about how the proposed redirection of the library funding will affect library operations.
Scotlandville’s resident Pat McAlister-Obesf emphasized the importance of local libraries, saying that funding should not be taken from areas where there is already a lack of resources.
“There is no internet. No computers. And in principle, there our families go to check their emails and all this, and we actually have to expand this service, not cut it back, “said McAlighter-Eluf.
Another public meeting was set at 5:30 pm Tuesday at the Acacia Church, 10051 Siegen Lane, with regard to Edwards’s proposed tax plan.
There are a series of meetings in the library to answer the residents of Millage.
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Main Library at Goodwood, Goodwood Blvd 7711
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Regional Branch Library of Greenwell Springs Road, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road.
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The Library of the Zahari Branch, 1900 Church of St.
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Baker Branch library, 3501 Groom Road.
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Jones Creek Regional Branch, 6222 Jones Creek Road.
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Delmont Gardens Branch Library, 3351 Lorraine St.
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, at a metro council meeting.
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