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Lebanon council backs expanded library design, authorizes appropriation transfer to pursue grants
Summary
The Lebanon City Council endorsed an expanded library design and approved a transfer of expenditure authority to allow the library to complete design work and pursue CDBG and other grants to fund a proposed $1.5 million expansion. Councilors stressed the project relies on grants and library trust funds, not new ongoing city general-fund spending.
Lebanon — Lebanon’s City Council on Nov. 12 endorsed an expanded design for the public library and approved a resolution to transfer appropriation authority so the library can finish design work and apply for grants, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
Library Director Kendra presented a larger design that expands the project from a previously adjusted $700,000 estimate to $1,500,000 and increases total building area from about 746 square feet to 1,605 square feet, with a multipurpose room of roughly 1,000 square feet. "Our initial project underestimated the true scope of community needs and growth," Kendra said, adding that programming for teens and after-school children has outgrown the current space. She said the library has raised about $50,000 so far through its friends group.
The project team identified higher construction costs as a principal driver of the budget increase: the current planning estimate is about $950 per square foot, up from $825 in 2018. When a councilor asked whether $950 per square foot was high for a slab foundation, city engineering staff said smaller projects lack economy of scale and that bonds, insurance and mobilization can raise per-square-foot costs for standalone construction.
The council voted to adopt Resolution 21 for 2025, which authorizes an interfund transfer of expenditure authority into the library special revenue fund so the library can use trust funds and move forward on environmental and archaeological assessments and design documents before applying for grants. Finance Director Brandon said the transfer "does not move any actual cash" but gives the library the authority to spend; he said the library fund ended last year with roughly $400,000 in cash and confirmed auditors had reviewed the approach.
Kendra said the funding strategy is to combine completed design and assessments (to maximize grant scoring), targeted grant applications (CDBG is a priority because Lebanon’s low-to-moderate-income rate was cited around 56 percent), community fundraising and potential local business partnerships. "This is a low-burden, high-impact project that aligns with strategic goals," she said, asking council to endorse the expanded design and authorize the appropriation transfer so consultants can complete grant-ready materials.
Councilors expressed general support and noted the project was positioned to submit a competitive CDBG application in 2026. The library’s next steps are to finalize architectural drawings and permit approvals in 2026 and proceed with a CDBG application; staff said if the project is not selected on the first round they will apply again.
The council’s adoption of the resolution gives the library the expenditure authority staff said was needed to proceed with grant-ready design work. Kendra closed by emphasizing rapid delivery and community benefits: the new multipurpose space is intended to expand programming for children and teens and allow the library to host more meetings and events once funded.
