06-05-1992
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CITY OF EDGEWATER LIBRARY BOARD
JUNE 5, 1992 SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
Chairman Mary Rice called the special meeting of the Edgewater
Library Board to order at 5:00 p.m., June 5, 1992, in the Edgewater
Library. The special meeting was called at the request of a City
Council member for the purpose of discussion and action on the
report on funding Volusia County public library construction.
Present were: Mary Rice, Jean Haughwout, Jan Dudley, and Lauretta
Shafer. Lilian Bond-Nelson was excused. Also present were
Librarian Gayle Harmon and County Library Director James Wheeler.
Mrs. Fran Byrne, President of the Friends of the Library, was in
the audience.
Mr. Wheeler explained the report on funding. He noted this is for
County-wide construction and the proposal is a tax of 8-1/2 cents
per $1,000 assessed value for capital expenditures on top of the
current 47 cents being paid for operations. He added it would be
about $2.14 on a $50,000 home. He commented on the Library usage
at the New Smyrna Beach Brannon Library by residents outside the
City limits, with 15% coming from Edgewater and Oak Hill. He
explained that for the cities with existing libraries, the County
proposed to take over the capital costs, such as new roofs, new air
conditioning units, and building maintenance, and they'd pay for
insurance on the building and property liability.
Mr. Wheeler stated the Councils are going to be asked to choose
from one of the alternatives: 1) to stop with existing regional
libraries; 2) let those areas go back and have a referendum again
if they want to; and, 3) County-wide funding for three new regional
and debt service and existing bonds for Ormond Beach and Deland,
and picking up all costs of the library buildings that the cities
are currently incurring. He added that the cities can submit to
the County their recommendations on the timing, such as this July,
or when economy improves, or the County could have a referendum
vote this Fall. He stated alternative 4 could be including a
County-wide 1 cent sales tax. He pointed out the cities don't have
to give the buildings to the County but the County has to have some
lease interest in the building in order to be legally able to spend
money on it and that lease could have an opt out clause. He noted
the lease would have to be long enough to recover the costs. Mrs.
Haughwout asked about the 1 cent sales tax. Mr. Wheeler explained
the schools would get $19 million of the $32 million and then
there's $13 million for the cities and County to share. Mrs.
Haughwout asked what would be assessed and Mr. Wheeler replied it's
after the homestead with the $25,000 exemption and $5.50 would be
the entire County tax for the $50,000 home. He noted that Alachua
County has a library tax of $1.25 and ours would be 55 cents.
Mrs. Haughwout asked if we could undo this later if we do it. Mr.
Wheeler replied, probably. He commented on the shortage of books
in the County, which would qualify as a capital expenditure. Mrs.
Rice asked if the parking lot could be included. Mr. Wheeler
replied this anticipates the future capital needs, such as the
parking lot and expansion, would be under this tax.
Mrs. Dudley asked what percentage of the people use the libraries.
Mr. Wheeler replied it's about 63%, and Volusia County has the
highest per capita use in the State. Mrs. Haughwout questioned how
they could cut back somewhere else. Mrs. Dudley asked about the
lottery. Mr. Wheeler explained they'd talked about $5-1/2 million
for the libraries but the lottery said they cannot give it up. He
noted if they build the libraries, they have to operate them. He
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noted Port Orange approved this and they're willing to give the
land for the building near the City Hall. He said the Daytona
Beach City Manager and Mayor approved it; Deland approved it;
they're meeting with Orange City next week; Lake Helen couldn't
come to a decision; and DeBary approved it providing the library
would be built near Four Towns.
Mrs. Rice stated the libraries have the best interest of the cities
at heart and for educating the children.
Mrs. Dudley moved they recommend we go along with imposing the
proposed County-wide tax. Mrs. Shafer seconded the motion. Motion
CARRIED 4-0.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Lura Sue Koser
Recording Secretary
2 Library Board Special Meeting
June 5, 1992
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