Inside Report for October 22, 2009

• By STEVEN WARD
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Oct 22, 2009 - Page: 9B

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There’s only so much money to go around. Whether it’s a family trying to stay on a budget or a governmental agency with financial constraints, taxpayers and agencies that spend tax dollars should spend only what they have or can afford.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Library Board of Control is facing that realization right now.

In August, the Library Board approved building a $6 million, 15,000-square foot library branch in south Baton Rouge on Burbank Drive.

The owners of the property donated the land in December 2004. The Library Board has until Dec. 31 to take action on the property or it reverts to the owners.

Library officials also have been promised free land for a new branch in developer Tommy Spinosa’s proposed Rouzan mixed-use commercial/neighborhood development off Perkins Road near College Drive.

During the last board meeting, Spinosa said he expects infrastructure work to begin on Rouzan sometime in the first quarter of 2010.

Spinosa said he couldn’t give more specific information because he is waiting for the city-parish Planning Commission to give final approval to the size and shape of the proposed Rouzan library branch.

So, at this point, the Library Board has proposals for two branches in south Baton Rouge.

And they can’t afford both.

Library Executive Director David Farrar said at the last meeting that, financially speaking, “We can’t build two branches in the south.”

There also has been discussion about making sure the Library Board can fund possible renovations at the library’s downtown River Center branch.

So why did the board vote in August to build a branch on Burbank with the Rouzan branch proposed as well?

Library Board President Dan Reed has said the Burbank branch was a backup plan.