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Keizer Community Library and Keizer United seek continued city support; library asks for $30,000 to reach state funding threshold
Summary
Representatives from the Keizer Community Library and the Salem Leadership Foundationsupported Keizer United asked the budget committee for continued operating support; the library requested $30,000 to reach 50% public funding required for state aid eligibility.
Public testimony at the May 20 Keizer Budget Committee meeting included a request from the Keizer Community Library for $30,000 in city support and an update from Keizer United on community engagement work supported by Salem Leadership Foundation.
Barbara Minor, president of the Keizer Community Library board, said the library has met state eligibility requirements and that a $30,000 city contribution would bring the library to roughly 50% public funding, the threshold for state library funding. Minor said the library has grown programming, served many children through bilingual storytime and had more than 12,000 visits in the prior year. She asked the committee to consider the request as part of the operating-support budget lines.
Jennifer Palenuk, the Salem Leadership Foundationfunded coordinator and chair of Keizer United, described the groups growth and the partnership with the city that includes meeting space and participation by public safety and other city staff. Palenuk said Keizer United had 50 participants at a recent meeting and that the group is connecting nonprofits and agencies to local businesses and residents.
Councilors thanked both groups for their work. The committee did not make a final funding decision at the May 20 session; staff will include the requests in subsequent budget deliberations.
