Kansas Library Laws

LIBRARIES - GRANT-IN-AID - RENT. Letter, August 12, 1976, to Ernestine Gilliland, State Librarian, Topeka, Kansas.

Synopsis: A local public library or a regional library may expend moneys received as grants-in-aid pursuant to K.S.A. 1975 Supp. 75-2553 et seq. for payment of rent.

Dear Ms. Gilliland:

You request my opinion whether funds distributed to a local public library or a regional library may as state grants-in-aid, pursuant to K.S.A. 1975 Supp. 75-2553 et seq., may be expended for rent.

K.S.A. 1975 Supp. 75-2558 states in pertinent part thus:

"State funds distributed to a local public library or a regional library as grants-in-aid shall not be expended for construction or repair, debt reduction, utilities or capital outlay, other than for the purchase of books, periodicals and other circulating library materials or library service communications . . . ."

As expenditures for rent is not, in my judgment, a capital outlay, nor is it an expenditure for utility service. Accordingly, I find no statutory prohibition against the use of grant-in-aid funds for payment of rent by a local public library or a regional library.