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Resident says Jackson County is leaving Fontana Regional Library and urges Swain to prepare for added costs
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Summary
A resident reported Jackson County will withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library, has hired a county librarian and budgeted roughly $850,000 this fiscal year; she said Swain and Macon counties will need to plan for continued library services and potential increased costs.
During public comment, Cynthia Womble (speaker 8) told the board that Jackson County has made a final decision to withdraw from the Fontana Regional Library and has hired a county librarian to operate its own system beginning July 1. Womble said Jackson County committed about $850,000 in this fiscal year to prepare for independent operation and that Swain and Macon counties will be left to maintain the remaining regional services.
Womble said Marianna Black Library’s librarian (Jeff Delfield) submitted a budget request for the coming fiscal year and asked the board to consider pay raises for library staff that would be commensurate with countywide increases, noting that library positions remain entry-level compared with other county jobs. She urged commissioners to view the budget request with an understanding of the likely reduced state contributions and the need to preserve current service levels.
Commissioners acknowledged the uncertainty caused by the state's operating without a current budget and said staff would present more detailed budget figures during county budget review.
