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Thrive BR Plan - Public Library Savings Fund - Too Much?
Posted on 10/28/25 at 8:33 pm
Posted on 10/28/25 at 8:33 pm
This post is not about the Thrive plan specifically. But I hear a lot of people criticizing the EBR Public Library as having too much in savings and are voting against the tax renewal because the library is "overfunded" and thus we are "overtaxed."
I am confused by this reasoning because the library pays for everything in cash up front, thus they have to have savings already to do this. I would think that for the rest of us, you wouldn't accept your boss lowering your salary because they found out that you had personal savings and you were thus being overpaid based on your daily required expenses.
It seems that for fiscally responsible citizens, we would be happy there is actually one public entity that effectively manages and uses our tax dollars. We certainly would criticize and not vote for a tax renewal of a department that was poorly managed and in debt (e.g., BREC), yet now we criticize and penalize a department for doing the exact opposite.
What is the library supposed to do? Or is this a damned if you do, damned if you don't (as in, just a bad climate to be asking for tax money)?
I am confused by this reasoning because the library pays for everything in cash up front, thus they have to have savings already to do this. I would think that for the rest of us, you wouldn't accept your boss lowering your salary because they found out that you had personal savings and you were thus being overpaid based on your daily required expenses.
It seems that for fiscally responsible citizens, we would be happy there is actually one public entity that effectively manages and uses our tax dollars. We certainly would criticize and not vote for a tax renewal of a department that was poorly managed and in debt (e.g., BREC), yet now we criticize and penalize a department for doing the exact opposite.
What is the library supposed to do? Or is this a damned if you do, damned if you don't (as in, just a bad climate to be asking for tax money)?
4
Posted on 10/28/25 at 8:40 pm to TooncesAndOmar
I’m about to the point where I’m not gonna vote for any more tax increases or tax renewals or tax continuations. Whatever you wanna call it I’m probably not gonna vote for it
Posted on 10/28/25 at 8:46 pm to TooncesAndOmar
EBR Librariea and BREC are flush with cash. Their millages should be zero for the next 5 years.
This post was edited on 10/28/25 at 8:50 pm
Posted on 10/28/25 at 8:48 pm to TooncesAndOmar
My understanding is that the Baton Rouge library system budget is equivalent to Dallas (or much larger cities). They don’t need more money. Perhaps they still could do well with less.
Posted on 10/28/25 at 8:51 pm to ChEgrad
Vote no on all, if they need money they either manage better, cut the fluff or wait until next time. Just like Snap, we need to stop the grift and find out what is really needed to run a program.
Posted on 10/28/25 at 9:03 pm to Amblin
Question:
I understand that the residents in ALL EBR Parish municipalities (BR, Central, Baker, Zachary, St. George) pay taxes for/to the EBR Parish Library?
1. Does Thrive BR Plan transfer EBR Parish Library taxes ONLY to BR for its benefit?
2. If yes, what are the Plan benefits for residents in all the other
municipalities?
I understand that the residents in ALL EBR Parish municipalities (BR, Central, Baker, Zachary, St. George) pay taxes for/to the EBR Parish Library?
1. Does Thrive BR Plan transfer EBR Parish Library taxes ONLY to BR for its benefit?
2. If yes, what are the Plan benefits for residents in all the other
municipalities?
Posted on 10/28/25 at 9:04 pm to Amblin
quote:I think the “manage better” is the Thrive plan. It will mot increase taxes and instead redirect funds to where they are more needed. Voting ‘no’ is a vote against managing better.
if they need money they either manage better
Posted on 10/28/25 at 9:21 pm to udtiger
quote:
EBR Librariea and BREC are flush with cash
COA says hold my beer.
Posted on 10/28/25 at 9:24 pm to KajunLass
Difference is that the library at least does its official job.
COA gets money then does shite which isn’t in the scope of their job, like contracting for feeding teenage inmates.
COA gets money then does shite which isn’t in the scope of their job, like contracting for feeding teenage inmates.
Posted on 10/29/25 at 1:14 am to papasmurf1269
quote:
I’m about to the point where I’m not gonna vote for any more tax increases or tax renewals or tax continuations. Whatever you wanna call it I’m probably not gonna vote for it
Yep. No matter what state you're in, it's time to start rejecting any and all new taxes, and instead start demanding that our State Governments use the money they already have, more wisely and frugally.
Posted on 10/29/25 at 2:43 am to TigerAxeOK
FTR, I plan on voting no on two of them at least, but I don't think Baton Rouge has anymore options. The city itself is shrinking, and the population left aren't exactly the high rollers for the most part.
The parish has options, but honestly, mayor and parish president need to be separated. I can't vote for things for the parish without wondering how much that is actually going to affect me in Central. Am I rolling over millages that I pay for the parish that's actually going to go help BR the city? For the most part, I understand that the city is the engine that drives the parish, but when it comes to COA or CATS or the like, i'd rather just light my money on fire, because it's just going into some drifters bank account.
The parish has options, but honestly, mayor and parish president need to be separated. I can't vote for things for the parish without wondering how much that is actually going to affect me in Central. Am I rolling over millages that I pay for the parish that's actually going to go help BR the city? For the most part, I understand that the city is the engine that drives the parish, but when it comes to COA or CATS or the like, i'd rather just light my money on fire, because it's just going into some drifters bank account.
Posted on 10/29/25 at 4:07 am to LSUSkip
You have a mayor trying to find solutions within his areas of control without proposing for additional/new taxes. Everything affects everything. Roads, drainage, bridge repairs, public services, education, response to critical incidents, I could go on. The library has benefitted for years from a generous millage. Adjust allocations, pay St. George what’s owed, put Mayor Edwards in a position to try to improve things. People voted him in because they wanted better. This is the first big thing he’s put forth and it’s something I’ve never seen a politician in BTR try. I’ll give him the chance to prove he’s a man of his word.
Posted on 10/29/25 at 6:01 am to HEtiger
quote:
1. Does Thrive BR Plan transfer EBR Parish Library taxes ONLY to BR for its benefit?
2. If yes, what are the Plan benefits for residents in all the other
municipalities?
Good question, and I am not sure anyone knows the specific answer. The cynic in me thinks that what is said where the money goes vs. actually where the money ends up going are two different things. The consolidated government model is really confusing.
This is from the BRLA.gov website (emphasis mine)
"Under the proposed plan, a portion of dedicated taxes from the East Baton Rouge Parish Library System, Mosquito Abatement and Rodent Control, and the Council on Aging will be re-dedicated into the general fund. Those re-dedications will result in a one-time infusion of $52.4 million that will be used to pay down debt, immediately putting the parish in a stronger financial position and reducing the burden on future budgets. In addition, a one-time payment of $6 million will be invested in parish-wide priorities such as critical infrastructure, drainage improvements, and public safety."
I struggle with this vote.
I and my kids use the library a lot and I think they do a great job. I really disagree with the Mayor just taking 50 million of their dollars - that were voted on by us - in exchange for even putting the 2025 millage on the ballot. Which makes me want to vote no because of strong arm tactics.
I can see, however, that the library millage needs to be adjusted down, But if this library millage doesn't pass, the library gets ZERO money and will run exclusively on its savings for at least a year until a new millage can get proposed and added to a vote next year. I don't like that either.
Posted on 10/29/25 at 6:21 am to SlackMaster
quote:
Voting ‘no’ is a vote against managing better.
Voting "yes" is a vote for robbing Peter to pay Paul...by your logic.
Posted on 10/29/25 at 7:16 am to TooncesAndOmar
I vote no on every tax or renewal. Government pisses away the money and it’s never enough and then they go into debt to continue spending frivolously.
Does the library do this? The downtown library seems like a huge waste of money for it’s location.
And besides, even if you love and fully support library taxes, now they want to rob it for the general fund to piss it away. Very sleazy of the Mayor/President to do link it to the tax renewal.
Please vote to continue supporting your local libraries. Oh and some of it will go to the general fund but don’t say that out loud too much.
Does the library do this? The downtown library seems like a huge waste of money for it’s location.
And besides, even if you love and fully support library taxes, now they want to rob it for the general fund to piss it away. Very sleazy of the Mayor/President to do link it to the tax renewal.
Please vote to continue supporting your local libraries. Oh and some of it will go to the general fund but don’t say that out loud too much.
This post was edited on 10/29/25 at 7:18 am
Posted on 10/29/25 at 8:06 am to papasmurf1269
I’m glad you and many others are waking up I’m just surprised it has taken so long. EVERYTHING is a GRIFT!!!
Posted on 10/30/25 at 6:35 am to DMAN1968
quote:
Voting "yes" is a vote for robbing Peter to pay Paul...by your logic.
Correct. Because we’ve voted to overfund Peter — by alot. Now Paul is bankrupt and we’ll be paying one way or another — it’s a matter of how much.
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