HOLLAND, MI (WHTC) – Over $820,000 in checks collected from Ottawa County Courts has been sent to nine local libraries in Ottawa County.
An Ottawa County press release states that according to the Michigan State Constitution of 1963, all penalties collected for violations of the state penal laws be divided into court costs, statutory fees and penal fees. The penal fees are placed in a library fund to be used for the support of public libraries and a county law library.
Treasurer of Ottawa County Bradley Slagh says “This year the total fines collected and disbursed are down almost $200,000 from last year’s high water mark of $1,020,000.”
The Spring Lake District Library uses the funds to purchase materials, fund programming and as a supplement to the budget.
Herrick District Library received 31% of the fine collections. See the attached graph for how the fines were distributed.
