Metro Council deletes mayors proposed rededication of library millage after hours of public protest

The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council on March 12 deleted a mayoral resolution (item 54) that would have ordered a Oct. 11, 2025 election to renew a 9.8 mills ad valorem tax for the parish library and to rededicate roughly $114,000,000 of previously collected proceeds for broader parish operations, including maintenance, land acquisition and construction.

The councils action followed more than three hours of public comment in which residents, library leaders, clergy and union members urged the council to protect the librarys dedicated fund and objected to repurposing revenues that voters had approved for library services.

Why it matters: Item 54 sought both to extend the existing library millage for another 10 years and to permit the parish to redirect a large portion of the librarys dedicated fund to general operations. Opponents said redirecting voter-approved, dedicated tax revenue would break public trust and risk capital projects in underserved neighborhoods.

The administrations written recommendation to the council, read aloud at the meeting, asked the council to delete the item. After public comment, the council took a motion to delete the…