Narragansett Library Battle Heats Up — Charges of Political Retribution
Narragansett Library Battle Heats Up — Charges of Political Retribution
Mannix says, “I am looking out for all Narragansett's taxpayers, not just the loudest ones.”
Nancy DeNuccio with the "Love Your Library" coalition appeared on GoLocal LIVE to talk about the long-running library battle.
“It’s a battle that’s been going on for about ten years. For the last number of years, the library has had to reach out and get waivers from the state library association because they are not ADA compliant [and] there’s no bathroom in the children’s room. And the waivers have just carried them through," said DeNuccio. "The library was built in the early [1960s] when the town of Narragansett had about 3,200 people — we now have 16,000."
But Mannix says that advocates for the new library and sustaining the existing budget levels provide false information and are trying to divide the town.
“Please be aware that some advocates for the costly and unnecessary move of our library to another building in the Pier often make false statements and then continue to repeat them. Many people in town are tired of their divisive tactics,” said Mannix.
The battle for building a new library charge that the newly elected council is violating the intent of the vote of Narragansett residents.
"So they did a needs assessment and they found that the best spot was the old Belmont building in the pier marketplace. There was a lot of back and forth, a lot of meetings about it, people were pro or con — a few of the people on the previous Town Council were opposed to the deal for a number a reasons, including one individual who is really fiscally conservative — I think his main point was that he didn’t think this was a good deal," said DeNuccio.
"In the meantime, a $5.8 million bond was approved by over 68 percent of the voters in 2016. So last October, finally, after all this time they purchased the building, and then after the November election the council changed and the majority of the council now were not library fans. In January they voted to put that building back up for sale,” added DeNuccio.
"People really feel disrespected by the fact that this council is now going in another direction and there’s no plan B," said DeNuccio. "And now they just had some preliminary budget meetings and the only town department that looks like is getting a cut is the library."
“[Do I think this is political retribution?] I certainly do. We’re hoping to change some minds. [Otherwise] on July 1 we’ll probably have to close a couple of days a week just as our summer people are coming into town,” she said.
Mannix Defends Budget Cut to Appropriations
Mannix says that claims of cuts to the operating budget will have no effect of the operation of the library because the board has a surplus that can be applied to sustain level funding.
“Last year, the Library Board's total operating budget was $1,032,755. The town allocated $841,103 and the state aid was approximately $190,000. For the upcoming year, the operating budget is $1,086,443. Our Finance Director informed the council that the Board is carrying a $686,443 surplus. That surplus, together with the town's planned allocation of $400,000, comes to $1,086,443,” said Mannix.
“Most town departments do not carry surpluses. Unspent monies go back to the general fund. There is no fiscally sound reason to leave that $686,443 surplus with the Board. That is why I agreed to the lower allocation,” he added.