TRENTON, Ga. – After their city’s initial budget eliminated funding for the Dade County Library, Trenton officials decided to use about $30,000 in interest earned on sewer department accounts to fund the library.
City commissioners amended the 2011 budget to move the money over. Mayor Barton Harris said the money was about seven years worth of interest on CDs and other investments the sewer department had made.
“We knew it was there but we hadn’t thought of it,” said Tommy Lawson, who officials said first presented the idea.
On Dec. 30, library supporters pleaded for commissioners to reinstate their $30,000 contribution.
On Monday, Harris and the commissioners questioned library staff about the department’s operations. Staff and supporters gave a spirited defense for the library, which apparently satisfied commissioners who unanimously adopted the budget amendment.
“We told them if we could find the money we would fund them and we found the money,” said City Ccommissioner Chuck Cannon.