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Appropriations committee agrees to $20,000 interim boost for library budget, urges cuts or external help
Summary
Facing a projected shortfall, the library asked for additional funding to reach the end of 2026; the committee endorsed a $20,000 immediate addition from the general fund, asked staff to seek RAPS reimbursement and urged the library and local cities to pursue volunteers and municipal contributions as contingency measures.
The Cache County Appropriations Committee agreed on April 23 to add $20,000 to the county library’s 2026 appropriation and asked library leadership to pursue volunteers, local-city contributions and RAPS reimbursements to avoid further county support.
George Hayne, county executive, and Matthew Funk, county auditor, summarized the library’s packet and year-to-date spending. Funk said the library had spent about $27,000 of a $134,000 appropriation by the February snapshot and presented four budget scenarios prepared by the library director, including options that relied on volunteers or cuts to part-time staff.
Committee members voiced concern about sustainability. "We don't want to shut the library," Chair Nolan Dell said, but he and others asked the library board to present concrete cost-cutting steps and to seek contributions from participating municipalities. Members discussed using previously earmarked RAPS (per-capita) funds or wrap-program allocations to cover a portion of the gap and emphasized the need for a clear plan before committing more county general-fund dollars.
After discussion the committee directed staff to add $20,000 to the library appropriation now (from the general fund) and to request that RAPS reimburse the county if RAPS allocations are approved in May. The committee also asked that the library either accept volunteer staffing changes or present a reduced budget option that will carry through the remainder of 2026.
Outcome: Committee approved the $20,000 interim addition and asked staff to notify the library director of the committee’s preferred budget scenario and required documentation; the committee said it will not automatically provide ongoing additional general-fund support without clearer local commitments.
