Board Member Concerned About Library Funding

JULY 15, 2025 |

Property tax cuts could force county libraries to close, says library board member.

The 2025 through 2026 fiscal year budget was set during Monday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting. At that time, Commissioner Sue Jones said bills passed by the Wyoming State Legislature in March reduced county property tax revenue by $496,000.

Commissioner Jones explained that property tax money is used to fund county services, including road maintenance, museums, and the library system. The commissioner encouraged residents who received property tax relief to donate those savings to the services they enjoy.

Commissioner Jones said every donation, no matter how small, will help keep the county’s libraries, museums, and senior centers open. The commissioner added that the state legislature’s actions will have far reaching consequences and encouraged the public to run for office in next year’s elections.

Carbon County Library System Board of Directors member Adelaide Myers, who clarified that she wasn’t speaking on behalf of the Library Board, said that after learning about the property tax cuts, the board created a float for Saratoga’s Fourth of July parade. Myers said the float served to educate the public on the financial hardships the library will experience in the coming fiscal year.

Myers said she created a QR code that allows people to donate directly to the library system. Unfortunately, the initiative hasn’t generated the response the Library Board was hoping to receive.

Myers urged the Board of County Commissioners to help spread the word about the library’s financial troubles. Without a significant increase in funding, Myers said the library system may eventually be forced to shutter some branches.

Commissioner Sue Jones said the Board appreciates the towns that donate water and sewer services to their local libraries. However, the commissioner instructed the Library Board to ask the towns to contribute more to ensure their branches stay open.

Library Board member Adelaide Myers acknowledged that Carbon County legislators did not support the property tax cuts. However, the library system is still facing a substantial budget shortfall that cannot be made up with small donations or by laying off staff. Myers said the library board cannot rule out the possibility of shuttering some branches in the future.

Myers said the Carbon County Library Board of Directors will do everything it can to prevent branch closures and committed to meeting with the County Commissioners before making any decisions.

The Board of Carbon County Commissioners passed the 2025 through 2026 budget, which includes the $496,000 loss in property tax revenue.