LIBRARIES - REGIONAL SYSTEMS - LEVIES. Letter, August 25, 1978, to Ernestine Gilliland, State Librarian, Topeka, Kansas.
Synopsis: The proceeds of the system levy of a regional system of cooperating libraries established under K.S.A. 75-2547 which are derived from one county are not required to be expended entirely or in part only in that county, but may be expended by the system board for the furnishing of library services anywhere in the regional system. K.S.A. 75-2551.
Dear Mrs. Gilliland:
You inquire whether the system board of a regional system of cooperating libraries established under K.S.A. 75-2547 et seq. is authorized to spend any part of the revenue derived by the system levy from a county in the system.
The financing of regional systems is provided by K.S.A. 75-2551. Specifically, the system levy is authorized by the last paragraph thereof:
"Each system board is hereby authorized to levy not in excess of one-half (1/2) mill of tax to be used for library purposes on all of the taxable property within the boundaries of such regional system of cooperating libraries that is not within a district supporting a library with funds of such district."The proceeds of the system levy are for the use of the system board in providing and enhancing library services throughout the territory of the regional system. One important premise of the entire act was the recognition that regional cooperation and joint planning and financing of library services on a regional basis was the most effective method of improving library services throughout the state. The levy is to be used by the system board for services throughout the regional system, and the proceeds of the system levy which are derived from one county are not restricted to use in that county alone.
- Quoted from Kansas Public Library Laws, Attorney General’s Opinions and Rules and Regulations, State Library of Kansas, March 1979.