ST. GEORGE, La. (WAFB) – St. George city leaders are considering breaking away from the East Baton Rouge Parish library system, arguing residents pay too much for limited services.<\/p>\n
City Councilman Andrew Murrell said the city only has one library within city limits, the Jones Creek Branch. <\/p>\n
\u201cOne library in 60 square miles for 86,000 citizens. It seems like we\u2019re being underserved as usual from the parish and overtaxed as usual from the parish,\u201d Murrell said.<\/p>\n
Murrell said St. George taxpayers pay about $17 million as part of the parish-wide library tax. He wants the city to create its own board to run the Jones Creek branch and redirect funds to other projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need $17 million to run the Jones Creek Library, so why don\u2019t we put that money back in citizens pockets so they can enjoy better roads, better drainage,\u201d Murrell said.<\/p>\n
Assistant Library Director for East Baton Rouge Parish Mary Stein said she is not sure the breakaway is possible, noting voters parish-wide approved the library\u2019s funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like you draw a fence around that library and that is not the way we do it in Louisiana. The whole parish library system serves the whole parish,\u201d Stein said.<\/p>\n
Stein said the money is used at over a dozen library locations throughout the parish for more than just books. She said St. George residents would lose services if the breakaway were approved.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust imagine if you\u2019re not welcome here at the Main Library, you can\u2019t come to the small business engine program, you can\u2019t come to the career fair, you can\u2019t use our Libby downloads,\u201d Stein said.<\/p>\n
Stein said a breakaway would mean fewer shared resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a system, which means we share resources because no one library can do it all,\u201d Stein said.<\/p>\n
Murrell said the city\u2019s focus needs to be on basic needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cStreets, drainage, and crime are the priorities. The library can take a little less,\u201d Murrell said.<\/p>\n
The St. George City Council will hold a public hearing and vote on creating its own library system on June 9.<\/p>\n
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