Library factor in city budget

Among factors in Colfax budget compilations for next year will be an increase in the city’s payments for upkeep and improvements of the Whitman County Library. Colfax pays the library a fee for building maintenance and upgrades because the library district owns the building in Colfax. Other towns around the county provide the library facilities at their expense.

The annual Colfax library fee payments will increase from $8,737 for this year to $11,675 for each of the next two years. The increase derives mostly from the costs the library now pays for the upgrade project last year.

In her report to the district, Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick said the library now makes $29,118 annual payments on a $550,000 USDA loan which financed part of the remodeling. She noted another $470,000 of the project cost was covered by donations and grants. Some of the loan payments are also covered by donations which were deducted from library’s actual payment costs. Under a 1883 agreement the city pays 20 percent of upkeep and upgrade costs on the building.