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Library reports $150,000 anonymous donation and asks selectboard to consider one‑year bond to finish construction
Summary
Library leaders announced a $150,000 anonymous donation, reported grants applied for, and asked the board to consider a one‑year municipal bond of up to $400,000 to bridge a funding gap so construction can continue; board members discussed alternatives and repayment timing.
Library representatives told the Johnson Selectboard on March 19 that construction of the addition is underway, contractors have been paid on schedule, and fundraising is progressing — including an anonymous gift of $150,000 that substantially narrows the funding gap. The library board asked the town to consider taking a one‑year municipal bond of up to $400,000 to allow construction to proceed and to be repaid by grants and donations or, if necessary, by a town vote at the next town meeting.
The library representative said the state librarian confirmed the grant’s language is flexible and that extensions or other remedies are possible, and that the library is also pursuing multiple grants (AARP $15,000, small libraries $15,000) and congressional delegate spending requests. Town members raised practical concerns about timing, loan terms and whether the town should pursue a local bank line of credit, the municipal bond bank or USDA options. One board member cautioned that taking a short‑term debt creates an obligation for the town and asked staff to start exploring terms and process so funds could be available by summer if needed.
