Tacoma Library’s Food for Fines program collected 18,560 nonperishable items to benefit local food banks, in exchange for forgiving overdue fees.
During the three-week program, which ended Saturday, fees held by library patrons were reduced by $24,284.50.
That figure includes patrons who paid their fines in cash, as well as those who exchanged three donated items for $10 deducted from their overdue tab.
The program was to end March 2, but was extended to March 9 when participation showed no sign of easing.
“If it wasn’t slowing down, why not extend it?” spokesman David Domkoski said. “Tacoma responded. Tacoma really cared.”
At the end of the program, 1,097 patrons no longer have fines, and 1,125 joined the library or rejoined after their accounts expired.
Here’s the other side of the story.
The taxpayers of Tacoma Washington just lost an asset worth in excess of $24,000. In accounting terms it’s referred to as an account receivable. Doubt if the past-expiration date beans were worth $24,000 to the food bank.
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This is an awesome idea!!!! Who ever thought this up should be given an award of some kind. Maybe the bumbazzed court system could follow??
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tree guy. I think the library understands assests recievable . I think they might just be trying any way they can to barter down the amount of fines that are outstanding and clear their books a little so they might concentrate on the worst system abusers.
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So take my tax dollars to run the library, tell me that there is never enough money and you always want more, then take the fines (food traded instead of money) that should be money going back into running the library and give that to the food bank. Do I get the tax deduction for my “charity donation”? When did giving tax dollars to the food bank become legal.
How about if we just take away the salary of the folks that approved this misuse of tax dollars and let them have the exchanged food instead?
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