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Highland council backs leaving modest library tax option in tentative budget to shore up services
Summary
City staff told the council a roughly $172,000 property-tax increase (about $27.55 on an average Highland home) would yield roughly $12,000 net for the library this year; after discussion the council directed staff to leave the smaller option in the tentative budget and to proceed with required public notices and outreach.
Erin, the city’s budget presenter, told the Highland City Council on April 29 that staff had prepared two property-tax options to address library staffing and service shortfalls and recommended relying on an ongoing revenue source rather than a one-time transfer.
“This is your budget,” Erin said, adding that staff’s role is to present options and that the proposed $172,000 increase in the library fund would produce only a modest net revenue increase for this year. Karen, representing library staff, noted programs and services under strain: “It’s grant funded through June 19, actually,” she said of a senior program and warned that Libby and interlibrary services have growing costs.
Why it matters: Highland’s library…
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