Mariana Black Library asks county for staff raises and help to close building shortfall

The manager of the Mariana Black Library told Swain County commissioners on May 26 that the library needs county help both for operating costs and to finish a new building.

The presenter said starting wages at the library have risen in recent years (from about $10 to $13 per hour) and requested county support for either a $1 increase that would bring starting pay to $14 per hour or a larger increase to $15 per hour. The transcript lists two total-request scenarios tied to those pay levels: roughly $395,000 for the $14/hour option and about $405,000 for the $15/hour option (the presenter said the packet shows the different totals).

The presenter also described two related shortfalls: a $79,937 (rounded in discussion to $80,000) operating gap in Fontana Regional Library funds reportedly caused by Jackson County’s anticipated withdrawal from the regional system, and a locally projected construction shortfall of about $340,000 to finish what was described as a $7 million building project. The speaker said, "we're looking at a possible shortfall of $340,000ish for this library" and suggested the county might be asked to help toward the end of the next fiscal year (February–March timeframe discussed).

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about how many library employees there are (the presenter replied six), insurance provision (the Fontana regional system provides insurance), and whether the Fontana shortfall is likely to be final (the presenter said the $80,000 figure is likely for this year but future years are uncertain). The presenter also noted that part of the request reflects regional allocations and that some pages in the packet originate from Fontana-region calculations rather than local line-item creation.

What happens next: Commissioners did not take a formal recorded vote on the library request during the May 26 work session; they planned further budget review meetings as part of the statutory public-notice timeline for the 2026–27 budget.

Key numbers from the presentation: starting-pay request options ($14 vs $15 per hour), Fontana regional shortfall ~$79,937, and a local building finish shortfall estimated at ~$340,000 on a roughly $7 million project.