Lake Worth Library

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It was a somber look last night at the Library Board meeting as we learned that city staff wants to use Trust money in the amount of $220 thousand to keep it alive to maintain present services. This raids the Simpkin Trust cutting that balance in half. A hefty increase are employee benefits rising from $76 thousand this year to $92 thousand. There are six employees of the Library. The City wants to reduce the amount of last year's budget by $137 thousand as it raises fees for water, sewer, waste and equipment technology and employee benefits. IT services were discussed and the Board felt that the city was charging too much.

The Board is down to three members: Sam Goodstein, Drew Martin and Brian Smith. Vicki Joslin, Library Services Manager, was there, along with Steve Carr, Finance Director and Juan Ruiz, Recreation Director and three residents.

The problem, once again, is the funding for our library that has been around since volunteers started it and read their books by candlelight. Later, residents raised money and eventually the present structure opened in 1941, now an historical structure that holds a lot of memories.

People want their own library and we want this one in particular. They want their own park and recreational services. They also want their own police and fire departments but money always gets in the way and that influences bad decisions made by politicians. A few years ago Scott Maxwell suggested that we give our library to the County. Vicki pointed out that idea would be way to costly to consider. Whenever we can't seem to manage anything, the easy way out is to give it to the County or to a developer.

A motion was made to accept Staff's recommendation and passed on a 2/1 vote with Drew Martin dissenting. He did not want to raid the Simpkin Trust by that much money. It will be interesting to find out during the Budget workshops how much they are spending on soccer balls versus library books.

When you consider the votes from the dais that have wasted money, not to mention the "free lunch" they all think they deserve, I am positive that we can find the $220 thousand to fund the library without delving into the Trust Fund money and soon depleting it to zero in a matter of a year or two and then still be in the exact same situation we find ourselves in today. The only difference will be NO money left to raid. Why do they always pick on our library?

Pensive Juan

Solemn Steve