WEST virginia legislature
2016 regular session
Introduced
Senate Bill 131
By Senator Laird
[Introduced January 13,
2016;
Referred to the Committee on Education; and then to the Committee on Government
Organization.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §10-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to permitting counties to impose additional levy on property within the county for the sole purpose of funding public libraries.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §10-1-2 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 1. PUBLIC LIBRARIES.
§10-1-2. Power of governing authority to establish and maintain libraries; financing.
(a) A governing authority either by itself or in
cooperation with one or more other such governing authorities, shall
have the power to may establish, equip and maintain a public
library, or to take over, maintain or support any public library already
established. Any library established, maintained or supported by a governing
authority may shall be financed either:
(1) By the appropriation from the General Funds of the governing authority of a sum sufficient for the purpose; or
(2) By the imposition of an
excess levy for library purposes, in accordance with the provisions of section
sixteen, article eight, chapter eleven of this code. Such
(b) Sums as are appropriated hereunder may under
this section shall be transferred to the public library board for deposit
and disbursement as the public library board shall direct directs.
By such the transfer the governing authority designates the
public library board as its disbursing agent.
(c) In order to provide for the support, maintenance and operation of a public library and any and all branches of the library located in the county or to support a public library already established, the supporting county shall, upon written request by the board of directors of the public library, levy annually within the respective taxing districts of the county, on each $100 of assessed valuation of the property taxable in the county according to the last assessment for state and county purposes, an amount equal to $.01 beginning on July 1 of the year so levied and for each succeeding fiscal year.
(d) The proceeds of the levies are for the exclusive use of the public libraries, any branches of the libraries, and any other public libraries in the county that the county seat public library makes a legal agreement with concerning distribution and disbursement of the funds. The funds may be disbursed only upon order of the respective board of trustees. The proceeds of the levies are considered additional library funding and are not intended to replace or reduce any current funding. All income realized by the operation of the public library from any source other than the above levies shall be used by the board of directors for support of the public library.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to permit counties to impose an additional levy on property within the county for the sole purpose of funding public libraries.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.