Altamonte Springs officially passed its latest budget, making major cuts to stay debt-free — including eliminating one of Central Florida’s largest Fourth of July celebrations.
To free up $950,000, the city is cutting “Red Hot and Boom,” its long-running Fourth of July celebration, but the city’s beloved neighborhood library got a lifeline. The Altamonte Springs Library nearly lost funding after the city manager said operating costs were too high, even though a tax hike passed two years ago was meant to keep it open.
Located on Maitland Avenue, the library has long been described as having a “small, family-feel” — a place where staff know kids by name. Residents young and old have made their voices heard, urging city leaders to keep it open.
After a final vote on Thursday, the library will stay open, for now.
Commissioner Jim Turney, who represents District 1, proposed an amendment to fund the library for another year while transitioning ownership to an outside entity. The amendment made it through the final vote.
“I’m hoping to keep it open with what I proposed, but off the city budget and into the hands that are the people in the city,” Turney said.
Turney acknowledges the road ahead is not be easy.
“Well, I’m very hopeful, but I do realize it’s going to be difficult running an organization, especially one that doesn’t have a long history already of success, like any business as well,” he said.
His vision is for community members to step up and take ownership of the 66-year-old institution.
“My view is that a local nonprofit will be created that will just immediately have that beautiful building, all the contents and the staff, that they’ll have to decide all of that what to do with it,” Turney said. “And hopefully they’ll be creative and come up with some great ideas that will keep that a neighborhood asset.”
What comes next?
The city manager will create a proposal for the public, which will be presented at the next commission meeting in early October. Those interested in taking over the library will have until February to submit their vision to the city. City leaders will then review submissions in April.