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Library funding dispute surfaces at Social Circle FY26 budget hearing; city and library agree to continued talks
Summary
City officials proposed reducing Social Circle’s FY26 contribution to the Stanton Memorial Library from $125,000 to $100,000 (and eliminating a $15,000 utilities payment), citing parity among system members and a city trust; the library system’s attorney warned the change risks state maintenance‑of‑effort funding and urged restoration of 2024 funding levels.
Social Circle’s FY26 budget hearing turned into a contentious exchange over the city’s proposed reduction in local funding to the Stanton Memorial Library and the planned elimination of certain in‑kind services.
City officials explained the recommendation to reduce the direct contribution from $125,000 to $100,000 for FY26 and to phase out a $15,000 payment for electricity, saying the library is not a city department and that the library has an existing trust fund established by Lyle May Stanton. The city noted the trust’s original principal was $350,000 and that trust assets currently total roughly $523,000; staff also compared Social Circle’s contribution levels with other jurisdictions in the Aelia Regional Library System and recommended parity with peer contributions.
Andrea Gray, attorney for the Aelia Regional Library System, asked council to maintain the current funding level and in‑kind services: "Our ask to the city is to maintain the same level of funding that was instituted for this budget year which was the $125,000 contribution and the in‑kind services provided," she said, warning that state rules require local maintenance of effort and that losing local funding could jeopardize roughly $1.6 million in state support the regional system receives.
Wayne McMillan, a long‑time library supporter, told council the library provides dozens of monthly programs and essential services to the community, and urged the council to continue negotiating: "This is about the community. It's about the library," he said.
City officials said their recommendation reflected a yearlong effort to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement and to bring Social Circle’s contribution more in line with other local governments, and they said the city remains willing to meet with the library board and state officials to seek a path forward. Both sides agreed to continue discussions; the council invited the library board to a June 5 work session to continue negotiating an intergovernmental agreement and funding solution.
No final vote on the library contribution was taken at the hearing; the recommended FY26 budget was presented for review and public comment. Council and library representatives scheduled follow‑up meetings to address outstanding questions about county contributions, possible offsets and how the trust fund might be used under its terms.
What happens next: the council will consider the budget formally at upcoming sessions and the parties will meet at a June 5 work session to continue negotiations on an intergovernmental agreement and potential funding alternatives.
