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Chickasaw County libraries ask board for 3% budget increase to sustain services
Summary
County library directors asked the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 17 for a 3% increase in FY26–27 funding to keep hours and programs stable, citing rising costs and successful community outreach; the board accepted the request for consideration and recorded the request in the upcoming budget process.
Crystal Griffin, identified herself as the public library director and said the Chickasaw County library directors have jointly asked the county for a 3% increase in FY26–27 support to offset inflation and rising service costs. Griffin said the libraries had strong community engagement this year, including a shared booth at a county fair that “had hundreds of people come through our booth,” and that the libraries plan to repeat the outreach next year. “We want to make sure we are able to provide the best services we can to our patrons,” Griffin said during the Nov. 17 meeting.
A mayoral representative and local officials told the board the libraries serve as community hubs, with programs that bring residents together; one official said the renovated library has drawn donations and grants and described resident response as “very supportive.” The board asked staff for the usual prior‑year statistics; Griffin said she provided circulation and patron counts for the rural county libraries and offered to answer questions from supervisors.
The board took the budget request under advisement and recorded a total funding request figure in the meeting packet (transcript lists the total as “$1.28 $67.63,” which staff later must clarify). No formal vote was taken on the 3% ask on Nov. 17; the board said it would consider the request as part of the broader FY26–27 budget process and return the item if figures change.
Why it matters: county library funding affects weekly hours, children’s programs and community events in small towns across Chickasaw County. The libraries’ request comes as supervisors begin budget guidance conversations and consider payroll and benefit cost pressures for the coming year.
What’s next: the library directors’ 3% request will be included in the county’s budget worksheets for FY26–27 and revisited during forthcoming budget hearings. Supervisors asked staff to circulate the supporting usage statistics that Griffin said were provided.
