Councilmembers spar over proposal to delay Wilmington branch library funding

During member comments at the May 12 Administrative Finance Committee meeting, a councilmember said he is considering an amendment to postpone half the county’s funding for the new Wilmington branch library until January, when the General Assembly allows tax collection, to avoid drawing on reserves.

The speaker said he may propose an amendment during upcoming budget discussions to delay the expenditure and instead reinvest reserve money into other libraries and staff. Another councilmember responded sharply, saying the suggestion would be unfair to Wilmington taxpayers, characterizing the proposal as effectively “unfunding” Wilmington and vowing to oppose it.

The exchange took place during the committee’s member‑comment portion and no motion or formal amendment on the library funding timing was introduced at the meeting. Committee members did not take a formal vote on the proposal during this session.