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Library Still Hoping for Higher Tax Levy
The Galesburg Public Library has asked the city council to consider allowing their tax levy rate to be raised.

After consecutive years of cutting their budget, the library says it simple cannot provide the services it how has without an increase.

Interim City Manager Craig Whitehead, however, believes the library can survive by using unrestricted reserve funds that have been built up over time.

He says, if the city's tax levy remains flat, so should the library's.

"If the General Fund and the other funds listed to go zero percent (increase), there's an issue of fairness, that the library's levy is also zero percent." Whitehead said. "They talk about the cuts they had to make. Well, the city has also. ...We're holding five positions vacant this year, including a firefighter and a police position as well. So, what are the priorities? Let's talk about fairness there."

Library Director Pam Van Kirk, however, said those reserve funds are meant for capitol improvement, or a future new library.

Van Kirk says the extra money was kept in the general fund because she was not aware it needed to go into a special fund meant only for capitol improvement costs.

She says now that she knows, the funds will be moved but the increased levy is still needed.


(WGIL News File Photo.)
11 16 10 by Newsroom
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