WICHITA, Kan. (AP) Wichita City Council members agree the city’s current downtown library needs improvements but they say the money isn’t available to pay for a new one.
The council voted Tuesday to solicit proposals for architectural plans for a proposed $29 million library. But the council opposed issuing bonds to pay for the project.
Instead, the council directed the city’s library board to find alternative funding. Officials said the city could not afford to issue more bonds while it is considering water, sewer and road projects.
No one disputes the city’s current library, which was built in 1965, has problems. It does not have enough space for its books and offers too few computers.
Some of the alternative funding ideas include a two-year quarter-cent sales tax, donations and public-private partnerships.
