The City of Carroll and members of the Library Foundation made a return trip Monday to the Carroll County Board of Supervisors. They discussed and voted on a request to provide $5,000 over five years in support of the library renovation project. Supervisor Rich Ruggles began by questioning the timing of this ask.
City Manager, Mike Pogge-Weaver, says that the city portion of the contribution to the Community Attraction and Tourism (CAT) grant is the $3.8 million bond referendum as well as an additional $500,000 in Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) funds. Members from the public in attendance were able to ask questions. Dick Collison, who has been a vocal opponent of the current library proposal, spoke up.
The simplified answer from foundation members is that this is state money, not local dollars. By utilizing these statewide tax grants instead of relying on local donors provides more opportunities for other local non-profits to benefit from regional giving. Another Carroll resident, Mark Beardmore echoed Collison’s sentiments, holding an article that cited private funding as the source of support for the $2.5 million donation pledged by the Carroll Public Library Foundation. Pogge-Weaver asserts that he has no control over what others print, but none of the city’s materials presented prior to the referendum said it would be solely private funding. The major question for supervisors is from where they would be drawing the $25,000 suggested opt-in. Gene Meiners says he would prefer to us LOST instead of money derived from property taxes. Bock says, although he is in favor of bringing in outside dollars, he also wants to be a good steward for the taxpayers and just doesn’t agree with using LOST.
He asked for a contingency, saying if the grant is not $300,000 or more, they would not supply the $25,000. The foundation feels that would spoil the application. Ruggles asked for a balance in the books from what has been earmarked for the library already.
The second option Ruggles presented was to give $5,000 this year and take from their budget in the upcoming years. In the end, the supervisors voted four in favor and one against, Bock, for approving the $5,000 per year for five years, contingent on the city’s receipt of a CAT grant. They will also hold the right to rescind this offer if the dollar amount does not justify the donation and will revisit the idea of taking from the library budgeted amounts in future years. Carroll Broadcasting will bring you more on this grant discussion from the Carroll City Council meeting in an upcoming broadcast.
