St. Tammany Library reports millage renewal, plans makerspace and capital work; director to leave

The St. Tammany Parish Library reported to the parish council that voters approved a recent millage renewal in March and that the system will proceed with capital and service planning while the board conducts a leadership transition.

"For every dollar invested in St. Tammany Parish Library, we are able to return a dollar 65 to the community," Director Kelly LaRocca told the council, citing an economic-impact study the library used during the millage campaign.

Key numbers and budget facts

- 2024 audited revenues: $13,063,762.67; 2024 expenditures: $12,542,336.21.

- The library reported a December 31, 2024 cash-on-hand figure of $6,317,694 and a total fund-balance presentation of about $19,000,158 (the larger number includes tax revenue carried forward that is dedicated to next year's budget, not all of it liquid cash).

- The library emphasized most operating revenue (about 95%) is ad valorem property-tax millage passed through by the parish; fines and fees account for under 1% of revenue.

Capital and program plans

- Capital projects discussed include renovation/new work at Slidell and Lacombe, and a furniture/refresh for Mandeville. The library board reduced the millage ask by 1 mill at renewal, which reduced the system's capital revenue stream compared with prior years; the board has designated contingency funds for projects but said some projects will be paced over multiple years.

- Makerspace pilot: The library plans a makerspace pilot in Madisonville (and intends a future makerspace at Slidell if space is available). Equipment for a makerspace (3D printers, engraver, sewing machines) was estimated at roughly $18,000'$20,000 for the pilot, with consumables recovered through small user fees.

- RFID (radio-frequency identification) was described as a long-term efficiency project that could cost on the order of "about $1 million" to install across the system; the board said RFID is not included in the immediate operational budget and will be evaluated against capital priorities.

- Furniture and shelving: The library has designated funds for furniture replacements; LaRocca said a combined set of furniture projects and contingencies appears in planning documents (examples cited were roughly $270,000 for Mandeville and larger sums for Slidell depending on scope). The board said it is exploring options to reduce shelving costs where feasible.

Leadership and operations

- LaRocca said the system employs about 155 staff (roughly 100 full-time) with a full-time-equivalent (FTE) of about 126 and that typical benefits (health, retirement, holidays) are provided only to full-time staff.

- LaRocca said she will leave the library for a new post at the state level; the library board and staff described an organized transition and said the board is beginning stakeholder outreach on long-term facility planning.

Council questions and next steps

- Council members asked about take-home vehicles for maintenance staff (the library said maintenance technicians use take-home trucks because they carry tools and respond to building emergencies), the makerspace pilot and user fees for consumables, and the library's capital prioritization and contingency planning.

- Board and staff described a multiyear approach to Mandeville and Slidell work and said lease terms for the rented Causeway branch were negotiated to provide five years of stability; the board said it prefers ownership but will use the lease period to develop long-term options.

Ending: The library presented a detailed 2026 operating budget narrative and supporting documents to the council and said the board will continue to phase capital projects and seek to minimize operating impacts while the system transitions leadership.