Pasco County has allocated $1 million for design work for a new public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School.
Commissioners approved the allocation as part of the board’s consent agenda — meaning it was approved along with a number of other items without discussion.
During a later part of the meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore who advocated for building a public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School, thanked his colleagues for approving the funding.
“We were able to use some of those excess funds that were returned by the tax collector’s office to provide this first round of funding,” Moore said.
The county has owned the library site, next to Seven Oaks Elementary at 27633 Mystic Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, since 2004.
The area is the highest growth area in Pasco County, he said. “The citizens will be very, very happy with that addition.”
Moore recounted how important libraries were to him, during his growing up years, and the important role they play in community life.
People can come in to read, to access the internet, use Makerspaces and take advantage of various programs that libraries offer, Moore said, during a previous interview with The Laker/Lutz News.
Moore initially raised the possibility of finding funding for the library during board discussions of the budget for fiscal year 2021.
At that time, he acknowledged the county didn’t have available funding, but he wanted to get the ball rolling.
The $1 million allocation is a step in that direction.
Published December 16, 2020
