FOOTBALLERS would be against spending money on Wodonga's library, a councillor believes.
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Danny Lowe spoke after councillor Ron Mildren called for a community poll on the level of ratepayers' money going to the city's new $10.2 million library-gallery.
"I think if you did a community poll and told ratepayers that there's going to an additional cost, no-one likes an additional cost on anything, so it's kind of a loaded question," Cr Lowe told Monday's council meeting.
"If you asked a footballer (and said) that we're going to spend money on the library they're going to say 'no way' and if you're going to ask someone that goes to the library if we're going to spend money on a football oval they're going to say 'no way'."
Cr Lowe's comments came during an intense debate over whether a further $1.4 million in council funds be allocated for the new library.
Deputy mayor Kat Bennett said the library was in "dire need" of renewal and spruiked the civic value of libraries, adding "everything in our library is free".
This prompted a rebuke from Cr Mildren.
"It is interesting that Cr Bennett refers to things in the library being free, simply untrue," he said.
"The things in the library are not free, they are paid for, by and large, by ratepayer and taxpayer funds."
Cr Bennett then was allowed to clarify her comment.
"By free of course I don't mind it just comes out of nowhere, that's ridiculous," Cr Bennett said.
"When people are needing a connection to other people normally that has to cost money but in our library you can go there and connect with other people and you don't have to pay money for that particular program, it's a no-brainer."
Separate tenders for the demolition and construction of the library are now being assessed.
Municipal staff will issue the former, with the latter going before the council.
It is anticipated renovations to the council's head office foyer in Hovell Street will be complete by the end of October, allowing reception staff now housed in a High Street shopfront to return.
Council chief executive Mark Dixon said on Tuesday it was hoped demolition could occur in December-January.
