Libraries receive portion of penal fines

Cass County Treasurer Hope Anderson said a percentage of money collected from fines for speeding tickets resulted in nearly $200,000 for libraries within the county.

The 2019 amount is up 32 percent from 2018, with the majority of the money going to the Cass County Public Library.

Every year, Michigan county treasurers distribute penal fines to public libraries across the state based on the percentage of the county population living in each district.

Anderson said Michigan’s Constitution since 1835 has contained a provision stating that income from penal fines shall be used for the support of public libraries.

State statutes require that penalties collected for violations of the state penal laws be paid to county treasurers.