Budget increase for new downtown library approved

With a vote of twelve against four, Regional Council has approved a $2 million budget increase to the new Halifax Central Library.

Armdale Councillor Linda Mosher sits on the library committee, and she says nothing has changed from the original design.

The library needs the funding boost to help pay for increased construction costs, which includes natural wood flooring and better ceilings.

“They keep taking from the interior of the building and putting it towards construction costs,” Mosher told council. “So they’re not looking for anymore or enhanced materials, they’re looking for funding to finish the interior of the facility.”

But District Councillor Gloria McCluskey wasn’t impressed with the request.

“I’m not happy that this is costing more money,” said McCluskey. “55 million, another five or six for land, 1.5 for the plaza… now we’re looking at another two million.”

Four Councillors voted against the funding increase, including Waverley – Fall River Councillor Barry Dalrymple.

“At the end of the day, no matter how we colour this, it’s two million dollars for better flooring and ceilings,” said Dalrymple. “While we have Middle Musquodoboit and Fall River areas that have been trying for 16 years to get anything even resembling a library.”

The extra funding for the library on the corner of Spring Garden and Queen is coming from two areas. One is $1.4 million in additional fundraising to a total of $3.1 million for the campaign fund, and $600,00 from the Central Library Capital Campaign.

Halifax Regional Library does have a fundraising plan in place and are confident they’ll meet the fundraising targets. If not, the Library Board would have to pay back half of what would be owed, and would do that through cutting staff, materials and computer equipment to repay the city over a five year period.

All three levels of government have contributed to the $55.6 million structure, set to open in June, 2014.