Lots of times the budgeting process is incredibly boring. (Surprise, surprise. ) City officials crunch all sorts of numbers, estimate this and that, and submit the findings - usually to city councils, which approve those requests they feel like funding and turn down the rest. Months go by and eventually everyone gets to do this dance again. Yeah !
Sometimes, though, you see little signs of life. For instance, last week's comments by members of the Fayetteville Public Library board struck us as something out of the ordinary. Safe to say, we were impressed with what we saw.
A former Fayetteville alderman and current member of the library board, Don Marr has suggested that the Fayetteville City Council sit down sometime with library board members in the hopes of more fully appreciating all the wonderful things taking place at the Mountain Street setting - which, and this can't be repeated enough, is easily one of this state's best libraries.
Specifically, the Fayetteville Public Library is looking for about $ 25, 000 for merit and cost-ofliving increases; $ 26, 000 for additional hours of service; and $ 15, 000 for downloadable digital content (e-books, music, audio books, and film ).
Will library director Louise Schaper and her fine crew receive every penny's worth of the increase her board of directors is talking about ? Does the Fayetteville Public Library, wonderful as it is, deserve a significant funding increase at the expense of many other local causes ? Can city aldermen justify such a boost in funding with area economic indicators below past projections ?
All that and more are questions for the Fayetteville City Council to answer. For now, we can't help being really impressed with the unusual assertiveness that's been demonstrated by board members. It seems to us that this is what the governmental process should be about - actually seeing groups vigorously advocate what they believe is in the best interests of the community.
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