With most of the local funds in hand or committed, the expansion of the Commerce Public Library is a matter of waiting on state funding.
And no one knows how long a wait to expect.
Mary Smisson looks for a book at the Commerce Public Library. The library awaits state funding for a $2 million expansion that would add 5,000 square feet to the facility.
Quick Funding Of Library Expansion Not Very Likely
To date, the local fund-raising effort has surpassed $500,000 and is about $75,000 short of its $583,000 goal, according to Susan Harper, Commerce library director. That’s the local match needed to “qualify” for Board of Regents money — about $1.5 million. The plan is to add 5,000 square feet.
Commerce is currently 13th in line among qualified library projects.
Funding takes place when the governor releases capital outlay bonds. Last year, Gov. Sonny Perdue released funding for six libraries.
“One time they funded 10,” commented Alan Harkness, director of the Piedmont Regional Library. “It is not unusual for three to five libraries to go through.”
But these are unusual economic times. With the state slashing budgets and the city on a spending freeze, what are the odds of substantial funding for library construction?
Surprisingly, Harkness thinks they may be good.
Because library construction funding comes from bonds, not out of the state’s operating money, Harkness says he believes Perdue may be “more likely to continue paying for construction, whereas he’s cutting everything else.
“The governor knows construction is good for the state of Georgia,” he adds.
Just how soon Commerce gets approved depends upon how many projects the governor funds and whether some other project gets inserted ahead of it.
For the rest of the story, see the Nov. 19 issue of The Commerce News.
Commerce is currently 13th in line among qualified library projects.
Funding takes place when the governor releases capital outlay bonds. Last year, Gov. Sonny Perdue released funding for six libraries.
“One time they funded 10,” commented Alan Harkness, director of the Piedmont Regional Library. “It is not unusual for three to five libraries to go through.”
But these are unusual economic times. With the state slashing budgets and the city on a spending freeze, what are the odds of substantial funding for library construction?
Surprisingly, Harkness thinks they may be good.
Because library construction funding comes from bonds, not out of the state’s operating money, Harkness says he believes Perdue may be “more likely to continue paying for construction, whereas he’s cutting everything else.
“The governor knows construction is good for the state of Georgia,” he adds.
Just how soon Commerce gets approved depends upon how many projects the governor funds and whether some other project gets inserted ahead of it.
For the rest of the story, see the Nov. 19 issue of The Commerce News.
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