LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Tuesday night the Lafayette City-Parish Council approved rededicating $10 million of library surplus funds.
 
“The motion to adopt as amended is approved.”
 
And just like that, $10 million of library surplus funds are going towards Parish needs, instead of the original resolution, which called for $18 million of the funds.
 
“Drainage ditches can be cleaned out. And so we already know what will be approved by those funds, if they are approved by the voters,” said Cydra Wingerter, Chief Communications Officer for LCG.
 
$8 million is being proposed to go towards drainage, roads, and bridges in the Parish.
$2 million would go to the Parks and Recreation Department.
 
“Is this being put in to make sure that it fails, that would be the first question,” said William Theriot, Lafayette City-Parish Councilman for District 9.
 
But some council members thought by including money for the Parks and Rec Department, some voters who live in places like Broussard and Youngsville won’t support the measure.
 
“Recreation is a need, however I know in my district, the priority is roads, drainage and bridges,” said Jared Bellard, Lafayette City-Parish Councilman for District 5.
 
“Sounds like a little scare tactic, didn’t work over here. And I don’t think it’s going to work on the people either,” said Jay Castille, Lafayette City-Parish Councilman for District 2.
 
Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux, District 4, wants some of the library excess funds that were not taken out, to be utilized to build a new library on the east side of I-49, in the northeast portion of the Parish.
 
“Kid’s abilities to get online, adults ability to get online to apply for jobs and access things. It just changes the game for that community,” he said.
 
Library Director Teresa Elberson sayss that’s one of the ideas on the table.
However,  the Library’s Board of Control makes the final decisions.
And building a new library takes a lot of time…
 
“We’re surely going to be looking at it, we’ve been looking at it for the past 2 years. You think it’s going to be fast, it’s never fast. 5 Years is a long time to wait for a library,” she said.
 
Now this is in the hands of voters.
The redeication of surplus funds will be on the October 12 ballot.