Mayor suggests ending overdue library book fees in St. Paul, Minn.
![41895910-books_1535910203187.jpg](https://images.foxtv.com/static.fox9.com/www.fox9.com/content/uploads/2019/10/764/432/books_1535910203187_5997529_ver1.0_640_360.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is proposing a clean slate for the 51,000 delinquent library cardholders who owe money for overdue books at the city's public libraries.
The Star Tribune reports that Carter's proposal would forgive more than $2.5 million in accumulated library fees and eliminate fines for overdue books altogether. He's asking the City Council to approve $215,000 in extra library funding for next year. It would replace fines collected each year.
The mayor proposed a $20 million library budget for 2019, a 3.2 percent increase from this year.
Carter says the changes "will unlock the doors to our libraries" so that everyone in the community can afford to check out a book.
The St. Paul City Council will decide on Carter's plan in October.
Library users would still be asked to pay for lost or damaged items.