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OBSERVATIONS
May 1, 2020 |
 |
 Wingate Lassiter |
Perhaps now more than ever, folks
need Public Library's helpful services
Renita Barksdale made a compelling case for more funding as she spoke with members of the Smithfield Town Council during their teleconferenced budget session Tuesday evening. She's in her first year as director of the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield.
The library has become quite a "go to" place for this community, even though its building in Downtown Smithfield is temporarily closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Information that she sent to the Town Council this week tells the story:
With all that going on, she's asking the Town
of Smithfield to step up its support of the library from
$270,000 this year to $400,000 in 2020-21. She's asking
the county to increase its support from $551,000 to
$650,000. Why?Because the library has been underfunded in recent years, resulting in a depletion of its fund balance to make ends meet while keeping up with increasing public demands for its services.
The problem, of course, is timing. It's unlikely either Smithfield's council or the County Commissioners will increase library appropriations significantly in the year ahead because of revenue shortfalls expected from the coronavirus shutdown.
On the other hand, both the Town of Smithfield and the County of Johnston have healthy fund balances of their own just now --- "rainy day funds," in effect. Using some of that money to give the library a "shot in the arm" to get through tough times looks to me like a reasonable response to Ms. Barksdale's request.
P.S. The County Commissioners sent the library an extra $75,000 back in November when the library's budgetary shortfall first came to light. The Town Council was also asked for additional aid to finish the current fiscal year but has not provided it, so far.
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