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Fontana Regional Library surplus distribution and injunction criticized at Swain County meeting
Summary
Speakers disputed a court fact-finding and explained the methodology used to allocate approximately $2.5 million in net surplus among member counties, with Swain's calculated share cited at roughly $86,000 based on available records.
Residents and stakeholders addressed the board about the Fontana Regional Library (FRL) net-surplus distribution and a recent court injunction.
Keith Blaine said he reviewed the injunction and identified what he called factual errors in the judge's findings, specifically that the revised 03/10/2026 FRL budget and finance policy had not been approved by member counties; Blaine argued the interlocal agreement delegates policy authority to the FRL board of trustees and called two of the judge's fact-findings "blatantly false." "The court finds that the revised 03/10/2026 Fontana Regional Library budget and finance policy was not approved by the member counties," he quoted and contested.
Laurie Richards explained the method used to calculate each county's share of approximately $2.5 million in accumulated unspent funds. Using eight years of available records she calculated net-surplus percentages of 51.6% (Jackson), 36.7% (Macon) and 6% (Swain), and applied those percentages to the June 2025 fund balance to arrive at distribution estimates (Jackson ~$738,000; Macon ~$525,000; Swain ~$86,000). Richards provided that documentation to commissioners and offered to answer follow-up questions.
