Woodstock To Review Sequoyah Library System Contribution

Woodstock city leaders on Monday will soon begin to re-evaluate how much it contributes to the Sequoyah Regional Library System.  

The decision to move forward with the review came out of a discussion during the city's first reading of its proposed fiscal year 2014 budget, which is at $33.7 million.  

Mayor Donnie Henriques said the city currently contributes $45,062 each year towards the library system, considerably much more than Canton, the city closest to its population.

Canton provides an annual contribution around $20,000 each year, Henriques added.

The cities that are served by the library system — all of which are in Cherokee, Pickens and Gilmer — act as funding agents to the system, annually contributing money towards its operations. 

As part of the budget process, Henriques asked City Council members if they'd want to consider using $3,000 of that $45,062 to give to the Long Senior Center, which they'd use to provide coffee for its members.

With the remaining amount, Henriques said the city could either decide to cut back its contribution to a dollar-for-dollar match for its population or leave it in place.

Since the city is made up of 12 percent of Cherokee's population, the city could provide $1 for each of its residents, Henriques added.

Using the 2010 census figures, that number would come out to $23,896, said City Manager Jeff Moon. The city is currently providing around $1.90 per person each year to the library system.

Councilman Randy Brewer seemed open to the discussion, and Council members Tessa Basford and Bud Leonard also said they were open to the options. 

"We are continually asking our employees to cut more and more things and do without more and more," Brewer said. "I think it’s time to look at things like that."

The council will further discuss the option at a called work-session at 7 p.m. Wednesday May 29. 

The proposed 2014 budget is only $100,000 higher than the current 2013 budget.

It includes a general fund of $16.9 million, water and sewer fund at $10.4 million and the remaining special revenue and service funds — which includes impact fees, Special Purpose Local Option Sales Taxes, hotel/motel taxes, Greenprints, capital equipment fund, debt services, workers and health compensation, tax allocation district and confiscated assets — at $6.4 million.

Chief Financial Officer Robert Porche said the city is projecting that its motor vehicle taxes, building permits and inspection fees and SPLOST will all trend higher this year. 

The city also has incorporated a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustments for all full-time employees. Also, the budget does not include any layoffs or furloughs. 

The budget is based upon the city's millage rate holding at 7.889 mills. A homeowner whose house is valued at $200,000, with the standard $5,000 exemption, would pay around $592 in city property taxes.  

After an executive session, the council came back to vote to declare property at 111 Pine Hill Drive surplus and authorize Moon to solicit bids to purchase the property. 

The property was acquired to build a portion of its Greenprints trails network, but a portion of the property was only needed for construction. 

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