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Massena Public Library holding two hearings on transition to funding through school district

Posted 11/18/19

MASSENA -- The Massena Public Library will hold two meetings to give information on a proposal to become funded by the school district rather than the town. They will be Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. …

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Massena Public Library holding two hearings on transition to funding through school district

Posted

MASSENA -- The Massena Public Library will hold two meetings to give information on a proposal to become funded by the school district rather than the town.

They will be Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.

According to a post on the library's website, the library board believes this is the best way to guarantee their current funding and services.

Library officials say a school district public library is an "autonomous legal (entity), independent of the school district or town and are governed by elected library boards."

If they go to this format, the Massena Central School District taxpayers would fund the library. In addition to the Town of Massena, the district includes portions of the towns of Louisville and Norfolk.

District residents would vote on the library’s annual budget as a separate resolution placed on the annual ballot for the school budget and Board of Education members.

If the district voters approve the budget, the school district would collect the taxes for the library and turn them over to the library board.

Currently, the library writes their own budget and gives it to the Town Council. They go over it at a Town Council public work session, and it is included in the annual budget that the council members vote on, usually in November.

"Please consider joining us at either information session; we’ll go into greater detail about the school district option and will answer any questions you may have," an announcement from the library says.