2005

Friends Advise the City on a Tax Surplus

The County reported a $3,071 surplus of Hermosa library taxes over service costs for fiscal 2003–04. On June 6 the City Manager asked the Friends for an opinion on the surplus and on a proposal to buy books. On June 7 Margaret Donnellan Todd of the County reported a $601,382 tax contribution and a $598,310 service cost, both for fiscal 2003–04. On June 20 Naoma Valdes and Charlotte Malone recommended returning the surplus to a City library fund and creating a Library Commission. A City staff report for June 28 weighed a refund, book purchases and a library reserve. The September 21 Board agenda listed Marcie Hines's Alibris program and possible book donations for Hurricane Katrina casualties. Betty Evans died on December 12; Whitney Youngs's obituary recalled her cooking, writing, garden and work with the Friends.

Drawn from: County comparison of 2003–04 library taxes and operating costs; City Manager asks Friends how to use the library-tax surplus; County reports matched-year library costs and tax contribution; Friends request City control of surplus library tax funds; City considers surplus tax uses and a library reserve; Annotated board agenda discusses Alibris and Katrina book donations; Whitney Youngs remembers Betty Evans and her civic work; Treasurer's report through December 6 with fund positions.

Summary written by Claude from this year's records, for review by the board. Read every year.