A way to resolve the budget tug of war between the Floyd County Commission and the Sara Hightower Regional Library might be worked out in January.

Library board Chairman Bob Kane and Library Director Susan Sexton Cooley will recommend transferring $300,000 from the library’s fund balance to the County Commission. The county would then add that money back into the library’s appropriation for 2010. That would keep the county from having to take money from its own fund balance to aid the library in a tough budget year.

The library’s trustees still have to approve the measure. They are scheduled to meet Jan. 14 at 4 p.m.

“It was not the best situation that we could have imagined, but at least it might be a solution,” said Kane.

County Commissioner Chad Whitefield, who chairs the county’s finance committee, said the library board has done a very good job in being a steward of its finances, amassing a fund balance in excess of $900,000.

“That fund balance is really more than they need. We maintain a three-month fund balance, and that includes money for them. They’ve got the fund balance,” said Whitefield.

Cooley said the library wants to be a good team player and partner with the County Commission. “It’s the only way for Floyd County to make its budget,” she said, explaining why she made her proposal.

The county issued a press release Friday afternoon stating, “For the first time in 10 years, our fund balance will drop below 30 percent of our total operating cost. By using $300,000 of their fund reserve, the library’s percentage of funds kept in reserve will be reduced from approximately 34 percent to 23 percent. This is very similar to steps being taken with the county’s fund reserve.”

The big issue, according to Cooley, was that a $300,000 cut to the library budget by the county would have constituted a reduction from the local funding agency, which would in turn trigger a virtual elimination of state funding for four positions at the library, its online catalog, all Internet service, the summer reading program and other services.

At the conclusion of the county’s press statement, the commissioners pointed out that funding for library materials statewide is expected to drop by 27 percent.

“Isn’t it ironic that the State of Georgia can cut funding to all libraries all across the state, but a regulation through the Board of Regents says a county cannot decrease its allocation to the library?”

Fortunately for the library, Cooley and her staff have been cutting corners wherever possible and have a rainy day fund that nowadays is the envy of many public agencies.

The Sara Hightower Regional Library operates the Rome-Floyd County Library and branches in Cave Spring, Cedartown and Rockmart.

Posted earlier: County responds to library budget controversy

Rome-Floyd Library Director Susan Cooley spoke out earlier this week about a proposal to cut funding by $300,000, saying the move could cause the library to lose some state funding. The library has a $900,000 fund balance.

Today, the Floyd County Commission issued a statement about the issue, saying "The proposal to use $300,000 of the library’s fund reserve (currently around $900,000) to balance their budget for the next fiscal year does not cut or reduce any library services, nor does it require any reduction in staffing."

The letter goes on to state:

"We appreciate the fact that, over the years, the library has not spent the entire yearly allocation the Floyd County Board of Commissioners has given them, which has helped to build up their fund reserve. We recognize, however, that funds built up in their reserves are primarily taxpayer’s dollars. In these unprecedented economic times, any steps should be considered that provide relief for the taxpayer or avoid a tax increase, particularly if it does not directly impact or reduce services."