The Coplay Public Library may end up getting an extreme makeover.

At it's June 13 meeting, library bookkeeper Teri Holderman told members of the library board that because some taxpayers inevitably fail to pay their taxes, the dedicated library tax approved by voters in May will not bring in as much money as anticipated.

The 0.38 mills was intended to replace the $72,000 in annual funding withdrawn by the Whitehall-Coplay School District. In reality, it will generate about $65,000, Holderman said.

Following a lengthy discussion, the board voted not to ask the school district for funding. Instead, board members decided, without a formal vote, to request that the borough continue to pitch in $16,500 annually.

"We need to look at every option that can be put on the table," said Councilman Bill Leiner Jr. at council's July 2 workshop. He described the options as ranging from keeping everything the same to "radical surgery."

Councilman Charles Sodl agreed a "scalpel" may be necessary. However, he also expressed frustration with the fact that the 0.38-mill library tax will not be enough to pay for the library.

"We go to the front door and we tell our taxpayers, 'This is what we need ... to survive,'" he said. "Six weeks later we're knocking on the back door and saying, 'Oh by the way, we messed up. We need another 25 percent.' That's lack of respect to these taxpayers."

Resident Mel Procanyn once again questioned council over whether it would provide the additional funding over and above the amount generated by the dedicated library tax.

"Did we not make it explicitly clear that the borough would not make any additional taxpayer contributions to the library if the referendum was approved?" he said.

"Are you talking about the $16,500?" said Council President Lou Bodish. "At this point the borough is not obligated to pay that."

Procanyn also questioned whether the school district or the borough has the authority to run the library.

"The school district has nothing to say about it," said Bodish. "That's why we have a library board. The library board runs our library."

Library board member Karen Shields, who attended the borough council workshop, invited Procanyn to the library board meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at the library.

"There are some questions that need to be answered," said Sodl.