Long Awaited Brookhaven Library May Finally Become a Reality

Brookhaven GA -- Brookhaven’s long-approved, but long-delayed, new public library may finally become a reality.

The DeKalb County Commission released funds for the library on Dec. 15, its final meeting of the year.

District 1 commissioner Nancy Jester -- who represents portions of Dunwoody and Brookhaven on the commission -- told the Brookhaven Post that the board approved a plan to refinance the outstanding balance of the general obligation bonds.

“The 2006 bonds were approved in a referendum by the voters of DeKalb and included a list of park, library, and transportation projects and improvements,” Jester said. “The county remains obligated to fulfill the list of projects that were specifically approved by the voters in the referendum.”

Funding for Brookhaven’s new library was in danger of being cut, according to Jester and Commissioner Jeff Rader, back in October.

“Any plan that removed funding for the Brookhaven Library was a violation of the 2006 bond agreement and so was a complete nonstarter,” Jester said. “The board could only reprogram the money away from the Brookhaven Library with a super majority (5 of 7) of votes. Fortunately, the effort to reprogram the bond funds could only garner four votes.”

The library hasn’t been constructed because of confusion over where it would be located. City officials want the new library to be located in Brookhaven park, but that park isn’t owned by the city.