Governor's signature guarantees library's funding

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Governor's signature guarantees library's funding

Posted by

Mark Beardsley

in Area Headline News, Top Stories

Wednesday, May 20. 2009

Comments (6)

A stroke of the pen by Gov. Sonny Perdue means it’s full speed ahead now for the 5,000-square-foot expansion of the Commerce Public Library.

Perdue signed the $18.6 billion state budget last Wednesday, exercising his line-item only three times but not on the Commerce appropriation.
The $1.5 million in state money comes through the Board of Regents from the future sale of bonds. The cash will not be available until the bonds are sold. Meanwhile, there is a lot to be done locally.

The first step was to create a construction committee to oversee the long process That was finalized Monday night. In addition, the Commerce Library Board has already started bringing together “focus” groups to build a community consensus as to what the larger and refurbished library should offer.

Then there’s the matter of local funds. To leverage the $1.5 million in state money, the city is obligated to come up with $583,037 in matching money. To date, the library has $248,507 in cash and $261,188 in pledges - leaving it only about $70,000 short.
But don’t look for the concrete trucks to arrive at the site in the next week or two.

“It is not unusual for it to take a year after the governor signs it before you break ground or have something visible coming up,” said Alan Harkness, director of the Piedmont Regional Library (PRL). “Once we start the spending, we have two years to complete the spending ... The last time, for Auburn, it took about six months after the governor signed the budget before the bonds were sold.”

It can take 225 days from the time the bonds are sold to when construction begins, he added.

“One of our challenges now is to get in there and see what pledges are remaining to be collected,” explained Trisha Massey, chairman of the fund drive.

Among those are $40,188 from Jackson County, $25,000 from Rooker Construction Co., $150,000 pledged by the family of Dr. Narasimhulu (Dr. Neel) Neelagaru, and $50,000 promised by the Harmony Grove Foundation.

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#1 a Georgia Teacher on 05/20/09 at 09:44 PM [Reply]

Good to know that Governor Bubba, er I mean Sonny has decided not to cut education per se completely out of his budget. Commerce needs a first rate, state of the art library. Now I just wish the governor would give teachers a cost of living raise to go with the 35% increase in our insurance premiums. Yes, I know there are those out there that think teachers make too much money, but I dare any of you to come to my class, teach, deal with discipline and parents, baby sit, complete paper work with my degree. In any other field, my degree would bring twice what teaching does. So, why do you ask do I do it? I do it because I love my job and know that I am making a difference in someone's life whether they know it or not. Thank you for listening.

#1.1 Cost of living on 05/21/09 at 01:00 PM [Reply]

Teachers are the ONLY state employees who received a cost of living raise last year when EVERY other state employee received NO raise and many have been furloughed. In the private sector, many folks are losing their jobs. Perhaps it is time to share the pain of tough financial times rather than the "me first" attitude that some educators seem to have.

#1.2 Anonymous on 05/21/09 at 10:33 PM [Reply]

Denial is a river in Egypt. Come on, you really think that you can work somewhere else with your degree, get paid twice as much, and have off for paid vacations, and get a 2.5 month paid summer break? Yes, you are making a difference in someone's life. Mine, because you are eating up too much taxes.

#1.2.1 Georgia Teacher on 05/27/09 at 09:43 PM [Reply]

Yes you better believe that I can work in the professional field with a masters degree and make twice my salary. Many people do. A masters degree in engineering pays almost $90K a year and a MBA holder can make more than that. My salary isn't even half that amount with the same degree. Do some research before you start making public statements!

I also want to know where you get the idea that I get two and a half months paid during the summer? IN MY DREAMS! I am at school through the middle of June and return the last week in July. In the meantime I have to attend classes to keep my teaching certificate current to teach the students of ungrateful parents like you. If I am not in class, I am preparing lessons for the next year.

If you are unsatisfied with the education your child is receiving in the public school system that is wasting your tax money, pull your child and send little Johnny/Susie to private school. Then you will realize what a bargain you are getting for the money!

#2 bill rhoads on 05/29/09 at 02:53 PM [Reply]

congratulations to the library. the library board has worked diligently for this expansion.

#3 Jean on 06/30/09 at 03:27 PM [Reply]

I just love the Commerce library!! Everyone who works there is so nice & helpful.....and I just love books.....and I just love to read! I wish more people, especially children, would start going to the library or start back going if they haven't been in awhile. Almost everyone is broke nowadays and going to the library to check-out books to read is free & fun! Maybe being broke will bring folks back to the library.

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