RINGGOLD, Ga. — The chairwoman of the Northwest Georgia Regional Library Board said she wanted to clarify figures cited by some county officials when she supported the Catoosa County Library’s break from the regional system.

Patrice Humphrey said dollar figures cited in a news story quoting county officials and the Catoosa Library Board chairman were misleading.

The Catoosa board voted in mid-April to cut ties with the regional library system that also includes Whitfield, Murray and Gordon counties and is headquartered in Dalton.

At the time, Catoosa County Commissioner James Emberson said he met with county Finance Officer Carl Henson before the library issue was discussed by the commission.

He said then Catoosa was paying $483,000 per year to the regional system, and, “It turns out we were paying more than the combined contributions of Whitfield, Murray and Gordon counties and Dalton.”

But Northwest Georgia Regional Library Board Chairwoman Humphrey said $430,000 of that $483,000 a year to the regional system was for Catoosa County library employees’ salaries, benefits and similar expenses, and did not represent the county paying an unfair share.

The payments were because a Catoosa County Commission approved an arrangement several years ago for the Regional Library headquarters to serve as fiscal agent for the Catoosa branch, Ms. Humphrey said.

“The Catoosa Commission approved the transfer of fiscal and personnel services to the regional library system, based on the Catoosa County Library Board’s request,” Ms. Humphrey said.

Current members of the Northwest Regional Library System are Calhoun-Gordon County, Catoosa County Library, Chatsworth-Murray County and Dalton-Whitfield.

Ms. Humphrey, who also serves on the Catoosa County Library Board, said other members of the regional board of trustees requested she clarify how Catoosa funds were being used.

“They didn’t want members of he public to believe one county was being taken advantage of financially to the benefit of other members,” she said. “The Regional Library Board takes no position on whether members stand alone or remain a region member.”

Ms. Humphrey said the Catoosa Library Board reached a majority decision on breaking away from the regional system.

“That decision was to become a stand-alone library on July 1,” she said. “Now, we move forward with that decision of the majority.”

Tuesday was the deadline for applicants to apply for the position of Catoosa County Library director.

Mona Allday, Catoosa County Library Board chairwoman, said she had received five resumes/ application packets.

“We plan to use the expertise of a member of the state library system in evaluating the applicants,” she said. “Our board members will make the final decision. There’s no going back with the July 1 change. County commissioners unanimously voted in April to adopt our recommendation to switch systems.”