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Residents object to BookPage subscription; commissioners split on library rollback during tentative budget hearing
Summary
Dozens of residents criticized library BookPage selections and urged commissioners to remove a $3,300 subscription from the library budget. Library staff described reserve uses; the board approved the library millage 3–2 after debate about reserves and public objection.
Dozens of Citrus County residents addressed the Board of County Commissioners to oppose a paid BookPage subscription in the county library budget, arguing some featured titles are inappropriate for a taxpayer‑funded county publication. Several residents also urged rollback of library millage; commissioners debated the request and ultimately approved the library millage line 3–2.
Public commenters named specific titles and described BookPage as an externally produced book‑review publication that the county currently purchases and distributes to library locations. John Labriola, who brought copies of a recent BookPage edition to the meeting record, urged the board to “cut that line item out of your budget and adopt the rollback rate for the library budget.” Robin Orlandi, a librarian and Library Advisory Board member, asked the board to “leave it to the…
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