Council approves $25 annual nonresident library card fee to ease program crowding

Haslet’s City Council approved an ordinance on April 6 establishing a $25 annual library-card fee for non-Haslet residents, citing program overcrowding and heavy use of city-funded library services by patrons who do not pay city taxes.

Library-board members told the council the library’s programs and story times routinely fill to capacity and that many regular attendees do not contribute to Haslet property tax revenue that supports the library. Elizabeth Arnett, a Haslet library board member, said the change is intended to ask frequent nonresident users to contribute toward the cost of programs and services.

Council members discussed implementation details and revenue estimates. During the meeting staff and board members noted two different revenue figures during the discussion; one presenter referenced a projection of about $114,000 per year and another remark in the record suggested a higher figure before it was corrected. City staff said cards would be charged at renewal, and the ordinance was scheduled to take effect May 1, 2026, with the largest impacts beginning June 1. The council confirmed the revenue would be deposited to the city’s general fund pending final accounting guidance from the finance director.

Proponents argued the fee would help preserve programming for Haslet residents and could fund at least one staff position; an opponent voted against the ordinance, saying library services should remain free. The motion to adopt the ordinance passed 4–1.

Next steps: city staff will implement fee collection at card renewal and confirm whether the revenue will be held in a designated library fund or the general fund as directed by auditors and the finance director.