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Council weighs library maintenance‑of‑effort, state‑aid split between Jesse Smith and Pasco libraries
Summary
Council members and staff discussed how state aid and the maintenance‑of‑effort requirement apply to the town's two libraries and whether the historical 74%/26% split should be revisited; staff said maintenance-of-effort can be combined and the split was negotiated historically.
Council members spent substantial time questioning staff about library funding and the state aid formula during the May 14 hearing.
A staff speaker explained that library state aid is a formula based on town expenditures and is paid in arrears. "The maintenance of effort is basically you have to spend the same amount on libraries as you did last year," the staff member said, and confirmed that the maintenance‑of‑effort totals can be combined between the two town libraries.
Participants discussed a historical split of roughly 74% to Jesse Smith and 26% to Pasco. Staff said that split was negotiated years earlier and could be revisited by the council if it chooses. Council members raised the possibility of temporarily phasing out funding for one library over multiple years if the council reallocated the limited state aid while preserving the town's access to state funds.
Council members asked staff to review the original agreement and report back to the council with options and the procedural steps necessary to change the split if desired.
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