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Murrieta officials outline $7.1 million children's library expansion; bids released, fundraising under way
Summary
City finance staff told the Library Advisory Commission the children's area expansion is estimated at $7.1 million, funding will combine Measure T, a state grant, existing fund balances and private donations, and the general-contractor bid has closed with a council review planned for Aug. 19.
On July 16, 2025, the Murrieta City Library Advisory Commission received a detailed fiscal briefing on the library district fund and the capital plan for a proposed children's area expansion, which staff currently estimate at about $7.1 million.
City Finance Director Javier Carcamo told commissioners the library district's FY25/26 revenue budget is roughly $3.9 million and that property tax is the primary revenue source, projected at about $3.1 million for FY25/26 and roughly $3.3 million for FY26/27. Carcamo said the expansion estimate is preliminary and "we're waiting to see the final request for bids, from firms to determine what the actual cost will look like at that point in time." He also identified a one-time private-donation target of approximately $540,000 designated for the children's expansion.
On funding, Carcamo outlined a mix of sources: a Measure T asset loan of about $3.5 million, approximately $1.5 million in available library fund balance (partly anticipated to be state grant-match funds), a state grant of about $1.5 million that staff said carries a roughly 50% match obligation, and private donations. Carcamo noted the library maintains a strong reserve (about 30% of expenditures when Measure T augmentation is included) to absorb revenue shocks.
Library staff announced the general-contractor solicitation was published on PlanetBids and gave the solicitation's closing date as July 14; staff said they will evaluate responses and present a recommendation to the City Council on Aug. 19. "Once all the bids are evaluated, we will then go to City Council on August 19 with the selected bid and with the hopes that they approve the bid and we can move forward with construction," the library manager said. Staff said construction is estimated to begin in September 2025 if the council approves the contract.
Library leaders identified items likely to be at risk if bids come in higher than estimates: furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) and some noncritical finishes. At the commission meeting youth services librarian Ashley reviewed FF&E priorities, describing the need to separate toddler/play spaces from preteen/quieter study areas and to include child-sized furniture, multipurpose story-time rooms, and improved sightlines and technology for different age groups.
The commission and the Murrieta Public Library Foundation discussed private fundraising tactics to close gaps between the construction estimate and committed funding, including community booths, renderings at events, targeted outreach to schools and housing complexes, and donor-recognition ideas. Kevin, president of the Murrieta Public Library Foundation, reported about $5,000 on a GoFundMe page so far and cited recent larger gifts and community events as part of a broader fundraising strategy.
Next steps: staff will evaluate submitted bids, return a recommendation to City Council on Aug. 19, and—if approved—begin construction as soon as contractors mobilize. The commission emphasized public outreach and commissioner participation at the council meeting as helpful steps to support final approval.
