Collierville residents urge town to fund Lucius E. LCC Burch Jr. Library expansion; officials outline funding gap

Dozens of Collierville residents urged the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on April 28 to move forward with an expansion of the Lucius E. L.C.C. Burch Jr. Library, citing growing demand for children’s programs, teen space and a large public meeting room.

The most detailed public statements came from library supporters and volunteers. Susan Ewing, who identified herself as a Collierville resident and library user, told the board, “The current library cannot handle that growth,” and described crowded children’s programs and a need for safe teen space. Julia Webley, president of the Friends of the Library, said the project is timely and pushed back on what she described as confusion about taxes and funding: “The tax rate adjustment is primarily a response to the state mandated rollback following recent property value reappraisals. It’s crucial to understand that this adjustment is not to fund the library expansion,” she said.

What staff told the board: Town staff clarified that the town has saved $8.4 million since 2015 toward a library expansion. A construction take-off estimate prepared from current design plans was presented to the board as $14.5 million, producing a roughly $5.5 million gap that the board has not yet committed to fill. Town staff and the mayor reiterated that no vote on funding took place at the April 28 meeting; the budget will be considered in upcoming readings, including a public hearing on the budget scheduled for May 27 and a final reading June 9.

Why supporters say it matters: Speakers argued the library functions as a community center — hosting story times, teen programs, community groups and nonprofit meetings — and that Collierville’s growth requires larger, flexible space. Multiple speakers urged a facility capable of seating roughly 300 people for events and rental revenue, in addition to dedicated children’s and teen areas.

Opposition and fiscal questions: At least one speaker urged a smaller, scaled project citing taxpayer concerns. Chuck Lesnick, a resident who said he analyzes municipal finances, recommended downsizing the plan and asked for clearer public communication and justification of utilization and patron counts. He noted the town’s reported $8.4 million in savings and suggested the town provide more data on library use and cardholder trends to justify a larger build.

What the town said next: Town staff said the budget process remains active; the mayor and staff invited residents to contact the town administrator, library director or board members for more information and noted the library expansion has not been approved in the budget. The first reading of the budget is scheduled for May 12, with the public hearing May 27 and final reading June 9.

Sources and attribution: Public comments recorded at Collierville BMA meeting April 28, 2025. Direct quotes attributed to speakers per the meeting transcript.