The Baldwin City Council voted unanimously on Monday, April 28, to deny a $5,000 annual funding request from the Habersham County Library System, citing current budget constraints and the need for fiscal responsibility.
The library system had requested the contribution to help offset increased costs tied to rising state health insurance benefits. While council members expressed support for the value of public libraries, they ultimately agreed the city could not afford the expense.
“I would love to contribute,” said Council Member Alice Venter. “However, after thinking about it, we can’t. We want to so bad. Libraries are very important.” She added that the city is facing potential cuts to its own budget.
Council members also raised concerns about fairness, noting that if the city were to fund the Habersham County Library System, it would also need to consider similar support for the Banks County Library, which provides mobile library services to Baldwin during the summer.
The council encouraged individuals and businesses to donate to the library system to assist in covering the mounting costs it is experiencing.
In other business
Police Chief Chris Jones presented the Baldwin Police Department’s quarterly report for January through March. The department responded to 1,501 service calls, conducted 5,446 security checks at businesses, and logged over 16,600 miles on patrol.
Jones also announced the implementation of a new fitness program within the department. He reported the recent acquisition and upfitting of two new patrol vehicles, as well as the certification of K-9 officer “Nikos” as a drug detection dog.
Additionally, the council discussed a scheduling conflict for its June 23, 2025 meeting, which overlaps with Georgia Municipal Association training. A tentative alternative date of June 26 was proposed, with a final decision to be made after further discussion.
Announcements
The April screening of The Wild Robot for Theron’s Theater has been rescheduled for
May 2 due to inclement weather on the original date. The screening will begin at 8 p.m. at the TAP Yard.
Public Safety Day will be Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This free event is
for all ages, with demonstrations and activities regarding public safety. The city has not secured a location for this event at this time. Jones told the council that he expects to have a location solidified in the coming week.
The city will host an additional movie at Theron’s Theater (previously Movies in the Market) at the TAP Yard on May 23 at 8 p.m. for a free screening of Moana 2. Moviegoers are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a night under the stars with your friends and family. Concessions will be available with all proceeds going to Shop with a Hero.
