Library Board Member Asks Saratoga Town Council for Funds

MAY 22, 2025 |

Photo – Saratoga branch library – Bigfoot99 file photo

Due to impending budget cuts, the Saratoga branch of the Carbon County Library System is requesting additional financial support from the town.

At the April 15th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Adelaide Myers, a member of the Carbon County Library System Board of Directors, explained recently passed property relief measures would have a negative impact on the library’s budget. The pending cut would require a 10% reduction in expenses, Myers said.  Since Saratoga already covers the library’s water and sewer bills, Myers requested that the governing body also fund phone and internet costs at $792 per year.

Mayor Chuck Davis said he is open to increasing the town’s financial support for the library and assured Myers the Council will consider the Carbon County Library System’s funding requests during upcoming budget discussions.

Carbon County Library System Board of Directors member Adelaide Myers returned to the May 20^th Saratoga Town Council meeting. There, Myers informed the governing body the Friends of the Saratoga Library donated $1,000 to the library.

Myers said the executive director of the nonprofit foundation explained instead of covering utility or other bills, the town can support the library through cash donations.

Myers said the Saratoga Library houses Carbon County’s second-largest book collection, following the Rawlins branch. Saratoga also has the second-highest operating cost. The library is asking the Board of Carbon County Commissioners to allocate $118,000 in county funds for the upcoming fiscal year.

Myers said County Commissioners have warned the Library System to expect less money this year. The Library Board member said she doesn’t know how the library can further reduce operational costs.

Myers said the library is unable to change the price of insurance and the cost of membership in the state library system.

The Library Board member said she believes other towns, whose libraries are also requesting additional financial support, are waiting for another municipality to commit funding before deciding on their own contributions.

Myers urged the governing body to break the stalemate by contributing $5,000 to the Saratoga Library. However, she acknowledged the amount may not be feasible since the town has already set its preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

As the county’s second-largest library, Myers said a substantial donation to the library would reflect positively on the town.

Mayor Chuck Davis asked if the Saratoga Library would benefit more from the town covering additional operational expenses rather than providing a one-time cash donation. Myers said any contribution will help.

Myers said the county has not set its upcoming budget yet, meaning the Library System does not know how much funding it will lose.

Councilman Jerry Fluty asked if the Library Board was seeking donations from local businesses. Myers responded they had reached out to HF Sinclair, but the board is uncertain if the refinery will contribute, given that the Sinclair Library closed last year.

Mayor Davis advised Myers to contact Brush Creek Ranch, the Hot Springs Resort, and Saratoga Forest Management for possible funding opportunities.

Myers said she will present the Town Council’s ideas to the Carbon County Library System Board of Directors. Meanwhile, Mayor Davis said the Council will review the library’s funding request during upcoming budget discussions. Like the county, Saratoga’s budget must be finalized by the end of June.