Leanne Benedict, representing the Saint Charles Parish Library, told council members the largest change in the library’s proposed FY2026 budget is the Hanville branch construction project. Benedict said the initial 30% estimate came in at about $10.3 million; the project team worked with the construction manager at risk (CMAR) and the architect to reduce scope — trimming roughly 2,000 gross square feet, moving the building on the property, reducing concrete and shrinking the meeting room — and produced a re‑estimate just above $9.1 million.

Benedict said the revised building will still include a Louisiana Room (the library’s historical collection) and that the meeting room will be comparable to the East Regional Library’s meeting room. She said the budget before the council increases the library’s construction line to reflect the higher estimate.

Council members asked for clarification about the branch type and square footage. Benedict said the Hanville location is a branch (not a regional library) and that gross square footage was reduced from about 15,000 to a little over 13,000.

No formal vote on the library budget line occurred at this meeting; Benedict asked council members to hold agency representatives in chambers through the public hearing in case further questions arose.