RALEIGH, N.C. — A $142 million library bond referendum is one step closer to being on the ballot in Wake County this fall.
What You Need To Know
The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved the $142 million bond referendum, moving it closer to landing on the Nov. 5 ballot
Concerned citizens are expressing their desire for funding to expand the size of the Green Road Library and many of its resources
Dr. MariaRosa Rangel said most patrons of the Green Road Library are either ESL or immigrants who do not have home internet
The bond referendum must meet four criteria before becoming ratified
The Wake County Board of Commissioners approved step one Monday afternoon at their monthly meeting. The bond referendum would provide funding for building new libraries in Rolesville and the Friendship area of Apex, replacements for the libraries at Athens Drive and Wendell, the expansion of the Fuquay-Varina Community Library and the renovation of several other libraries throughout the county.
One of the locations tapped for renovation is the Green Road Community Library. The Green Road branch would receive $3.5 million out of the $142 million under the current wording of the bond referendum.
Many concerned citizens spoke about the Green Road Community Library during the public comment section. Dr. MariaRosa Rangel talked on behalf of many who speak English as a second language and immigrant communities using the library.
The vice president of the North Carolina Society of Hispanic Professionals said the amount of space inside the Green Road Library must be expanded for its community.
“I just felt so sad for my folks that live around there,” Rangel said. “It’s interesting, as a parent it broke my heart to see how small it is.”
Rangel said there is a need for increased available space and updated resources inside the library.
“I live in Apex, an affluent area. I am so privileged to have a library that has a variety of books that I expose my child to. When I think about the children that go to this library [Green Road] and I see them, they are a product of Wake County Public Schools. I think that we deserve better,” she said.
Rangel said many of this library’s patrons use the location because they lack home internet and are actively learning how to speak English.
After the meeting, Rangel talked at length about the role Green Road plays in the community she advocates for. She said devoting more money to this site in particular will translate into an economic benefit for not only them but society as a whole.
“They go to the library to look for technology assistance, because nowadays, when you apply for a job, you have to do it online. It's also a hub where immigrants come together to connect and create relationships because they're new here. So they're trying to figure out how to navigate the system,” Rangel said.
A petition to support added funding for expansion at Green Road has circulated online.
For the bond to make it on the ballot this fall two more steps must happen.
Commissioners of the board must vote to introduce the bond order and set a date for a public hearing on June 17.
Then the commissioners must adopt a resolution calling for the referendum to be on the ballot after taking public comment on July 8. Once this third step becomes final, the bond referendum will officially be on the ballot.
The library bond referendum is separate from the Wake County Government budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. Final approval for the proposed $2.1 billion FY 2025 WCG budget is set for June 3.