The Henderson City Council held a public hearing on the fiscal year 2008-2009 budget during its regular meeting on Monday, June 9, 2008.
Bennett Perry of the library’s Board of Trustees was the first to speak to the council, advocating that the budget provide funds sufficient to operate the library at 61 hours per week.
Currently, the library is opened for 48 hours per week and has operated on that schedule since moving to its new facility on Breckenridge Street.
Perry told council members that the library had over 127,000 visitors during the first ten months of fiscal 2008, with over 133,000 items checked out and 38,000 users of its computer facilities. He told members that “people are using the library in ever-increasing numbers”.
Former Henderson City Council member Bobby Gupton told the council that he is not against the library, but rather he is “against the way it is funded”.
Gupton noted that the contracts for jointly funded programs between the city and county have escape clauses. He urged council members to join with the county in creating a committee to develop a line item on property tax bills to fund joint programs.
The former council member stated that many Henderson homeowners will have a 25% rise in taxes.
“Equal access should equal equal taxes,” Gupton said.
Telling members that $.26 of the tax rate goes to jointly funded ventures, Gupton stated that employees should be give a 10% increase in pay. He said that money is available but “is being badly misused.”
Gupton said that the city has a bargaining chip in negotiations with the county: water.
The text of Gupton’s remarks may be read here.
Former council member Elissa Yount criticized the maintenance contract between Henderson and the state. She said that the amount of money given to Henderson in exchange for road maintenance has not changed since the 1970s. She called the arrangement “another inequitable joint venture”.
Assistant City Manager Frank Frazier said that of the $7,500 allotted by the state for road maintenance each quarter that some months it was exceeded, others not. He said that the city has asked several times for an increase with the result being the removal of the snow and ice removal clause of the contract.
Council member Mike Inscoe moved to continue budget deliberations, a motion that was passed unanimously by the council.
The Finance and Intergovernmental Relations (FAIR) Committee will meet again today at 12:00 p.m. at City Hall.