Photo from video made by Caleb Farley
LOUISA, Ky. –Strange things are going on at the Lawrence County Public library, and it’s too early for Halloween.
A special meeting was called by ‘somebody’ (Library officials refused to come to the phone today (Thursday). All five board members attended including three new members suggested by Lawrence Judge/Exec Phil Carter.
Carter has complained that the library takes too much of the county’s tax funds with at least $1 million in reserve and adding to it each year.
The fiscal court has replaced three members on the committee, Smith, Collins and Perry.
Vice President Susie Chambers led the Wednesday afternoon ‘affair’ which was not made available to the media. Also another big spook was that Library director Carley Pelfrey WAS NOT present for the first time in at least two years at least.
The seemingly witchy issue of property taxes was the only thing discussed at the meeting which you can watch here.
The county’s multimillion dollar facility’s tax rate was set earlier this year at 11.8% but the meeting Friday was held to change the rates, which Chambers said needed to be adjusted because the board intended to keep the same rate as last year by taking the compensating rate. But, again oddly, the compensating rate is much higher than last and the library’s taxes would be 12.4%.
So the board, Lyndsy Smith, Lennie Collins, Treasurer Kim Burchette, Lynn Perry and Chambers, was set with the task of redoing the rate.
New member Smith suggested the rate be set at 10.% in this day snd time when things are so tight. Lynn Perry agreed and said people she talks to say the library has too much money, but later voted for the end result, a minuscule .3% reduction in tax rates for local citizens.
Burchett led the fight against the 10. tax rate saying that would be too much while acknowledging the $1million in reserve. She said the board should go down gradually, but not this year. “We would be further behind next year and if we have to raise it back up,” Burchette, a local banker, said.
In the meeting there was a discussion about “potholes not getting fixed” and other needs for other tax districts not having enough money. See video
Former Library Board member Dr. Mark Lester burst into the meeting to help fight against a tax rate cut. He injected a lot of emotion while explaining the library’s food program. “A lot of kids may go hungry without the meals program, he said.
Lawrence County is the only library in the state that has a free food program funded by the USDA.
LYNDSEY SMITH IS AN ENERGETIC AND PLAIN SPOKEN MEMBER OF THE LC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ms. Smith, a relatively unknown person here, was adamant about the amount of taxes going to the library instead of other county programs. She also asked, and was told, about the $1 million the board has banked up.
The result of the meeting was a tiny .3% lowering in tax rates to 11.5.
