LIBRARY funding in Victoria should be returned to a 50:50 split between the State Government and local councils.
The Legislative Council committee said the Government had failed to maintain the funding split, placing a significant financial burden on local councils.
Councils are now funding up to 80 per cent of library costs. Loddon Shire is a member of Goldfields Library Corporation and has library agencies at Boort, Inglewood, Wedderburn, Dingee, Tarnagulla and Pyramid Hill.
Earlier this year, changes to State Government legislation required the corporation to adopt a new government structure. Member councils footed the bill.
A separate federal enquiry on local government sustainability was told by Loddon Shire this year “Operational (state) grants are also provided for services such as libraries. “However, these once dollar for dollar  funded services have generally shifted with Councils meeting the majority of costs.” Loddon is calling for a return of equitable funding models.