PCB Council approves record $73 million general fund budget without cutting library funds
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Local officials approved city spending for next year without cutting funds at the public library.
In a City Council meeting Thursday, leaders approved a more than $73 million general fund budget in fiscal year 2023 for Panama City Beach, which will not include cuts to the Panama City Beach Public Library.
"We all agree literacy is very important," Mayor Mark Sheldon said during the meeting. "Nobody here is wanting to hurt the library in any way."
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Owned by the Beach but operated by Bay County, the PCB Public library is one of many local amenities funded by the city's general fund. In past meetings, officials discussed possibly cutting funding for the facility, sparking concerns from many area residents.
These discussions were based on hopes Bay County could help foot some of the bill since the library is used not only by Beach residents, but many people who live in unincorporated Bay County.
This request, however, was denied, leading the City Council to approve a library budget large enough to allow the facility to thrive.
The county originally requested $222,000 from the Beach to run the library in 2023. That was reduced to $211,000, which officials approved Thursday. This is enough money for the library to stay open six days a week and keep all of its employees.
"The importance of the library and its effect on the community does not go unnoticed," Councilman Michael Jarman said. "We were just looking for a little bit of fairness and equity in trying to fund a library that is so clearly used ... by residents other than Panama City Beach residents."
Funding for the library makes up only a small portion of the more than $73 million general fund approved for the Beach in fiscal year 2023. This is a 69% increase over the 2022 fiscal year budget of more than $43 million, making 2023 spending the most for any year in the history of Panama City Beach.
Among those who attended the Thursday meeting was Laura Roesch, a board member of the Bay County Public Library Foundation, who said she believes the PCB Public Library plays a crucial role in education.
Roesch noted her group focuses on literacy in Bay County — an area in which many local students are struggling.
She also said out of 123 students at Hutchinson Beach Elementary, 68 have below level literacy rates. At Breakfast Point Academy, 69 of its 137 also are performing below standard.
"Statistically, the younger you can get children interested in reading, the better," Roesch said. "I don't care what side of (the Hathaway) Bridge you are on, we are all interested in the literacy of our students. (The City Council has) arguably built a world-class destination, wouldn't it be wonderful to (also) build world-class library system as a reflection on how we respect our community and our education system?"
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach sets 2023 general fund, no cuts to library funds
