JULY 18, 2025 |
The Town of Saratoga is moving ahead with plans to take ownership of the local library branch.
Due to property tax-related budget cuts, the Board of Carbon County Commissioners is asking towns to contribute more to their local libraries. As reported by Bigfoot99, the governing body of Saratoga has started talks with the county to take possession of its library branch, located at 503 West Elm Avenue.
During Tuesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis said he spoke to Commissioner Sue Jones, who informed him that the library sits on 1.2 acres of county-owned land.
If the deal is finalized, the town will receive the library building and the 1.2-acre property. Mayor Davis said he supports the plan, adding that annual operating costs for the library, including gas and internet, total nearly $4,300.
Mayor Davis said the Board of County Commissioners agreed to handle all legal paperwork for the exchange at no cost to the town.
The Mayor said Platte Valley residents may be more inclined to financially support the library if they know their contributions will go directly to the local branch.
Prompted by a question from a meeting attendee, Mayor Davis explained how the deal will work. The county-funded library system will continue to manage daily operations, while Saratoga will own the building and cover utility costs.
Mayor Davis added that in January of 2024, the Saratoga Library spent a combined $435 on electricity, gas, and trash service.
Mayor Davis said the extra acre of land included in the library deal will benefit the town. With that land, the Mayor said the town will own property from Elm Avenue south to Shively Field.
Additionally, Mayor Davis said the library building is in good condition, noting that a new roof was installed four years ago. However, the Mayor said he was willing to hire an inspector to ensure the structure does not have any hidden flaws.
The Saratoga Town Council unanimously voted to take ownership of the library, pending the outcome of a building inspection. No timeline was provided for when the inspection would take place.
