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 resolution; the motion to delete was moved by Councilman Harris and seconded by Councilwoman Amorosa. The motion carried.

Library officials who spoke said they had worked with the mayors office and the council to craft a compromise that would protect the dedicated library fund. Katrina Stokes, executive director of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, said library staff and board members "worked alongside the Metro Council and the mayor's office to create a plan that safeguards the dedicated library fund" and that they were "confident that we can continue providing the essential library hours and services our community depends on" (Katrina Stokes, Executive Director, East Baton Rouge Parish Library).

Dozens of speakers urged protection of the library fund. Pastor Bridal Sutton, representing Together Baton Rouge, thanked the mayor and council for pulling the initial proposal and said the group had engaged in negotiations that produced the new plan. "We would like to thank Mayor Edwards for agreeing to pull his initial proposal in favor of a new proposal that reflects the spirit of collaboration and negotiation between stakeholders," Sutton said (Bridal Sutton, Pastor, Ebenezer Baptist Church / Together Baton Rouge).

Other public commenters emphasized trust and transparency. Harold Greer, a city-parish worker, told the council "transparency builds trust" and urged clear explanations of how any proposed changes would affect taxpayers and employees. Several union members and city employees said pay and staffing for maintenance and other services also needed clarity in the broader budget discussions.

Supporters of the councils deletion emphasized the risk of creating a precedent of reallocating dedicated millages. William Lynch, a resident of District 3, said repurposing dedicated funds would send a message to voters that their prior votes could be reversed.

Despite strong public opposition, council members indicated the administrations recommendation to delete the item before the formal vote. The council then voted to delete item 54.

What the proposal said (as read at the meeting): the resolution would have ordered a Oct. 11, 2025 election to extend a 9.8 mills ad valorem tax for public library purposes for an additional 10 years (20262035) and would have authorized rededicating approximately $114,000,000 of proceeds "heretofore and hereafter received" for general operations including maintenance, land acquisition and construction of new library facilities, and would have made application to the Louisiana State Bond Commission.

Next steps and context: With item 54 deleted, the council did not adopt the mayors proposed text. Several speakers and library leaders said negotiations would continue; Katrina Stokes invited the public to library events and called for continued collaboration. The council did not take any additional action to place a different library-related measure on the council agenda that day.

Votes and formal action: Motion to delete item 54 passed (mover: Councilman Harris; second: Councilwoman Amorosa). The council recorded the motion as carried at the meeting.

Community response: After the vote many residents praised the councils decision and urged sustained attention to library capital projects, staffing and transparency about any future proposals.

Ending: Council members and library leaders said discussions would continue in the coming weeks; the council did not set a new date for any alternative library measure during the March 12 meeting.