Polk County sends library plan back to committee after debate over 100% funding goal

The Polk County Board of Supervisors on April 15 voted 12-3 to send Resolution 14-25 — the county library plan and accompanying resolution — back to the county library committee for further revision after extended discussion about funding goals and how the plan treats libraries that lie outside Polk County.

The move came after supervisors and staff debated language in the draft plan that lists a goal of 100% reimbursement for libraries established under Chapter 43 while noting that any final funding level would be set later through the county budget process.

County staff member Joe, answering supervisors’ questions about where money originates, said: "I think it's important to clarify that the county, this isn't county money or county funds. The county is a pass through whatever rate the county sets gets levied upon the townships." He added that the county only collects and forwards library levies, so lowering or raising the rate does not create discretionary county funds.

Supervisor Dan Rock said the aspirational 100% figure sends a mixed message to constituents and raised concern about taxpayer burden: "My problem with it is it sends a message... we're only approving at 95. I don't like the verbiage of it. I don't necessarily like the way it was presented and it certainly is a taxpayer burden no matter how you want to look where it goes through."

Supervisor Jay Luke urged removing the percentage from the plan and leaving funding decisions to the annual budget process: "Would we consider just striking that 100% and just leave it... and not have it as a goal. Just set that each year budget time." Several supervisors, including Kim O'Connell, pressed for clearer wording about libraries that serve residents in more than one county, specifically the Turtle Lake library, which lies in two counties.

Library committee members and county counsel said the funding percentages in the plan are aspirational and do not legally obligate the county to a specific funding level. County staff noted the statutory minimum reimbursement for libraries is 70% and that the plan's percentages would be implemented, if approved, through the budget process rather than by the plan alone.

Following discussion, a motion was made and seconded to send Resolution 14-25 and the associated plan back to the library committee for clarification and revision. The motion passed on a roll call vote: 12 in favor, 3 opposed. The board’s clerk recorded the roll call responses on the motion to return the plan to committee as follows: John Bonaprise — yes; (Bridal) — yes; Doug Rowdy — no; Steve Bridal — no; Pam Garvey — yes; Tracy LeBlanc — yes; Dan Ruck — yes; Sharon Kelly — yes; Jeremy Hall — yes; Kim O'Connell — yes; Tony Johnson — yes; (Bridal Duncanson) — no; Russ Arcand — yes; Keith Karpinski — yes; Jay Luke — yes. The board chair instructed that the committee refine the language addressing adjacent-county libraries, funding goals, and any clarifying text about how library levies are collected and distributed.

Next steps: the library committee will revise the plan and return it to the board. Any specific funding level would be set later when the board considers the county budget, staff and supervisors said.