The Columbus City Council on Monday approved more than $1.4 million in appropriations for the new fiscal year.
The amount is slightly higher than the $1.39 million approved for last fiscal year, but less than the $1.6 million in requests the city fielded.
The council approved a $17,500 funding increase to the Columbus- Lowndes Public Library. The city gave $256,000 to the library in FY 2014. The library requested $291,840 for FY 2015. The approved increase will push what the library gets to $273,500.
Smith asked the council to make the increase during Monday’s meeting, citing the heavy computer use he said he’s observed when he visits.
“There are a lot of citizens in the city who don’t have Internet access or don’t have access to computers,” Smith said. “The library is used widely, especially by the citizens of Columbus.”
The appropriations left the city with a $176,410 deficit. The council transferred a matching amount of funds from the city’s general fund to balance the budget.
Councilmen also approved a $1,000 increase in funding to Contact Helpline, $5,000 in new funding to World Changers and a $1,000 increase in funding to the Building Bridges of Hope Foundation.
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