TAX PROPOSAL FAQ

Sabine Parish Library FAQs

With the upcoming library tax proposal on June 27^th, the Sabine Parish Library and Library Board of Trustees have received some great questions from Sabine citizens. The Library Director and Board are committed to complete transparency to enable citizens to make an informed voting decision. If you have a question or concern that is not answered here, please comment, send us a message, or email it to jcook@sabineparishlibrary.org.

Our second live Q&A Session will be held on our Facebook page on:

June 11^th at 5 PM to discuss these and other questions.

Is this tax proposal for the purpose of building a new library?

-No, this tax proposal is only for the purpose of keeping our library system open and operating. Our library has received no operating funds since 2022. This tax proposal will fund the daily operations of our library system. A 2 mill tax will bring in approximately $750,000. Our operating budget is approximately $804,000. The difference will be made by utilizing interest income from our remaining reserves, along with continually finding ways to cut costs and operate more and more efficiently.

Why are you having the election in the middle of the year instead of November? Are you trying to slip it in under the radar?

-Since the library’s defunding in 2022, the library system has been running on reserves. At the end of 2025, the total fund balance was around $2.5 million.

-The current Library Director was hired in July 2025. The Library Board of Trustees is almost a completely new board as well. The first time the new board met was the end of September 2025, so it was fourth quarter 2025 before the new Board had a good handle on the financial situation of the library and could formulate a plan for moving forward.

-Board members immediately began discussions with local tax payers about a millage that would be considered reasonable to the people and efficient for the library. These discussions brought about the decision to ask for 2 mills, less than half of what the library had previously been receiving.

-According to current values, a 2 mill ad valorem tax will bring in approximately $750,000. The library’s operating budget is approximately $804,000.

-If the library tax proposal passes in June and the library can begin running on tax revenue rather than reserves, then the interest on our remaining reserves will cover the approximate $50,000 deficit not covered by tax revenue.

-In order to receive tax revenue for the 2026 year, it was imperative to get on a ballot as soon as possible in 2026.

-We also anticipate the June 27^th election to bring in a significant voter turnout due to the Senate run-off that will take place that day.

Why do we have 5 libraries? Isn’t it wasteful to have all those locations? Couldn’t you sell those buildings and materials to make your funds go further?

-Our library system is designed to serve a parish of 22,000 people. The branches are outposts of our resources and services to help us extend our reach to all citizens.

-Our 4 branches cost approximately $125,000/year total to operate (this includes, salaries, utilities, maintenance, and materials).

-Selling the buildings/materials would not even add half a year’s worth of funds to our coffers.

-Branch site details:

Zwolle: (rent-free) lease

Pleasant Hill: we own the portable building and the property is a (rent-free) lease

Converse: we own the portable building and the property is a $2000/year lease

Toledo: the site-built building and property are owned by the Police Jury (because public libraries cannot own property). Therefore, if we closed the Toledo location, the Police Jury would determine whether or not to sell the property.

-We track every dollar spent on each individual branch, the cost of their materials, and we track their usage statistics to make sure these branches are the best investment of public funds.

-The branches account for 25% of our circulation and usage but only account for about 15% of our budget.

Why did/do you have so much money in the bank? What about CDs or other investments?

-The library has operated on public funds from ad valorem (property) taxes since 1936. Any year that the library managed to come in under budget, those funds were set back. Since libraries are designed to serve the entire population of the area that funds them, they need to grow with that population. Librarians and Trustees knew this and set these funds back for years, to be used for either major unexpected expenses or for the possible building of a new library when needed.

-In 2011, the windfall from Haynesville Shale began. As all other government agencies in the region received greater revenues, so did the library. For about 6 years, the library received surplus revenue from this gas boom.

-Rather than impulsively spending this excess revenue, the library Board and Head Librarian allowed it to sit in reserve while they formulated the best course of action.

-In 2018, discussions began on building a new library with these funds. This would eliminate the need to ask the public for more money to build one.

-The 10-year operating tax was up for renewal in 2021. (This tax was not to fund the building of a new library. It was for operating.) It failed and was decreased to 4 mills and rerun in 2022. This also failed. This ended all public funding of the library (including any state revenue sharing we were receiving).

-The library has run on reserves since 2022 and without further funding will have to close at the end of 2028.

– At the end of 2025, the library’s total fund balance was around $2.5 million. This is the total balance of all accounts—CDs, money market, investment funds, and checking.

Are you funded by the Police Jury? Would your tax proposal funds be shared with any other entity?

-The library is not funded by the police jury and, excluding the early years of 1933-1935, never has been. A dedicated library tax is what funds our public library. If a tax is voted in to fund a specific thing—such as a library, health unit, or a specific road tax—the funds cannot legally be moved from their designation to another area.

-Funds from the library tax have not in the past and cannot be used for any other purpose.

-The Police Jury has no obligation to fund a public library unless they are petitioned by 25% of the duly qualified property taxpayers of the parish to do so.

Why do we need a library if you have all those digital resources? Can’t people just use their phones?

-The Library offers several digital resources that patrons can use remotely. Digital resources expand the library’s reach and can save citizens money on e-books, streaming, and audio-book subscriptions.

-A library card gives a patron access to Hoopla and Libby, our two digital libraries, along with several online resources available to us through the State Library. Many people utilize these services. Without a library system in service, library cards become inactive; therefore, these digital resources would become unavailable.

-Fun fact: 65%+ of readers still prefer physical books over e-readers, and research suggests that comprehension is 6-8 times better when reading a physical book rather than an e-reader.

Is your staff overpaid? What percentage of your budget is spent on salaries?

-As of April 2026, the average hourly rate for library workers in Louisiana is approximately $15.98 to $18.97 per hour for general staff. Most of our staff fall within this average. Some have been with the library for 25-30+ years and therefore fall above average. Sadly, some of our staff are actually grossly underpaid. As of April 2026, the average hourly rate for a Library Director in Louisiana is approximately $35 to $41 per hour. Our Director’s salary falls below this average.

-Personnel Services (salary, wages, and benefits) account for 54% of our budget. A common target among public libraries for their personnel services percentage is around 60%. This is not because library staff are unreasonably paid. It is because libraries can operate other areas of the budget pretty efficiently. We can shop around, get the best price, receive donations, and stretch resources. People, on the other hand, must be compensated at a rate appropriate for their job description, experience, and tenure.

Why is there so much going on at the parish libraries? Are you just pulling out all the stops to try to pass the tax?

-The new Library Director has a business background and believes in the power of marketing. A universal problem with libraries is that they have always offered wonderful things… that no one knows about! Not long after starting as Director in July 2025 (and well before a date was set for the tax proposal), we developed a new marketing strategy to ensure that the parish residents we serve are aware of all the valuable resources at their fingertips.

-You are seeing new and different resources and programming simply because new people bring new ideas and skills to the table. In addition to the new Director, there are several new staff members, and every day is an explosion of creativity and passion for providing the very best for the Sabine citizens we serve.