Library and community-initiative funding raised as council seeks more documentation and potential contracts

Councilors asked for more documentation about community-initiative funding requests and for written agreements where the city provides operating funds to outside organizations.

The Prattville Public Library requested additional funds to support staff pay raises; staff said that earlier negotiations with the county had changed and that the county may now participate in some compensation increases. The proposed budget includes a larger allocation for library support this year, and staff said some or all of the proposed increase may be used for staff pay increases, but detailed payroll breakdowns for Prattville branch staff were not provided at the work session. Staff told council that audited financial statements and past-year data are available for prior fiscal years and that any future increases could be structured as reimbursement or contract payments tied to documentation and deliverables.

Councilors also raised broader questions about community initiatives: several council members said they wanted the process streamlined, requested copies of contracts for service where they exist, and asked for the submission requests to be centralized so the council may review them earlier in the process. Multiple members said they support community partners but want standardized agreements and clearer accountability for taxpayer funds.

Why it matters: funds to community groups and the library are recurring uses of city dollars and attract public interest; councilors said they want transparency and contractual accountability before approving additional allocations.

Source: remarks by council members and city staff during the work session. No formal action was taken at the meeting.