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Ellsworth council approves 2024 budget amendment to make library funds available
Summary
Council approved Budget Amendment AR‑24‑241 to legally release interest and a county distribution to the library after staff said statute requires funding at the board's requested level; the amendment passed by voice vote.
The Ellsworth City Board of Commissioners voted to approve a 2024 budget amendment (AR‑24‑241) that will allow the city to close a small fund and transfer the interest and an additional distribution from the county to the public library.
Dustin (city staff) told the council that a review of state law and the library's request showed the city has a statutory obligation to provide the amount the library board requested. "Thanks to Mariana's training with the Clerks Institute, we did confirm the research. We actually have to give the library what they asked by statute," Dustin said. Councilors moved and seconded the amendment, and the voice vote carried.
Council members also clarified that the extra interest and the forthcoming county motor‑vehicle tax distribution would be turned over to the library once received, and that the amendment is a technical step to make the transfers legal and to close the related fund in 2024. Staff said the action is intended to clear accounting and avoid writing checks against a deficit.
