East Baton Rouge Parish Library presents 10‑year 'Thrive' millage plan to Central council

Central — Officials from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library outlined the “Thrive” 10‑year millage plan to the Central City Council, describing how the renewal would secure library operations and contribute to parish infrastructure funding. The plan matters because the library’s current property‑tax funding expires in December; the library said the Thrive plan would preserve service levels at all 15 locations, fund capital projects and provide a predictable revenue stream for the next decade while reallocating a portion of funds to parish infrastructure priorities. Katrina Stokes, executive director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, opened the presentation and said the system prepared an information campaign for voters. Assistant Director Mary Stein summarized the compromise: “It’s not a new tax,” Stein said, and the library system is “totally funded by this 10 year dedicated tax.” She said the plan renews the property tax at 11.1 mils, with 8.3 mils dedicated to the library for 10 years and 2.8 mils reallocated to the city‑parish general fund to support a parishwide stormwater master plan and street maintenance. Stein told the council the library operates on a pay‑as‑you‑go capital plan and does not borrow for projects; to support parish finances the compromise carves out $52,400,000 from the library’s fund balance to pay down city‑parish general‑fund debt. The library team said the dedicated funding would maintain all 15 locations open seven days a week and preserve the capital improvement program. The presentation materials and a 10‑year financial projection are posted on the library’s website, the presenters said. Council Member Diab asked whether the reallocated funds would be subject to annual discretionary decisions. Stein responded that the split is fixed for 10 years if the tax passes: 8.3 mils for the library and 2.8 mils for the parish, not an annual board reallocation. Diab also asked about the system’s operating budget; a library representative said next year’s operating budget is projected at about $50,000,000 and described it as balanced. Library staff said the Thrive plan will appear as three separate ballot items — the library, mosquito abatement and Council on Aging — and noted early voting begins Nov. 1 with election day Nov. 15 referenced in the presentation materials. The presenters said if voters reject the millage the library would have no tax funding for tax year 2026 and would begin drawing on its fund balance while planning a future ballot measure. The presentation included outreach materials and an FAQ; staff offered to provide additional briefings to elected officials and to supply requested financial details electronically.