Sequatchie, Tenn., resident Carl Campbell researches geneology inside the Whitwell Library. “This is the place in Marion County to do that,” Campbell said.JASPER, Tenn. — A budget oversight in Whitwell, Tenn., could cause a loss of state services to all the public libraries in Marion County if officials don’t act soon.
According to Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Whitwell must increase funding to its library by $5,574 above the appropriated amount of $33,560 so the state will consider the entire county to be “in compliance of [the state’s] maintenance of effort requirement.”
The vote for the increase must take place before Jan. 1, 2013, Hargett said, and failure to comply will result in a “loss of services” to all libraries in the county.
Local funding agencies are required to contribute a certain amount of funding for public libraries.
Last week, the Marion County Commission voted unanimously to “encourage” Whitwell city leaders “to get this issue straightened out.”