The proposed donation by the city of Shreveport to the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce of the old library building on Edwards street will be pulled from the agenda of the council today for the failure to meet the legal standards for a donation.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has a general prohibition against the donation of public property.
The Louisiana Supreme Court has established a 3-prong test to determine if donations of public property comply with the Constitution:
1. There must be a public purpose for the donation:
2. The transfer must not be gratuitous;
3. The public entity must receive at least an equivalent value in exchange for the transfer.
The library building has historical significance and it is badly in need of substantial repairs.
However, without an appraisal of the property the City can not satisfy the requirement of receiving equivalent value for the exchange. Additionally estimates of the cost of the needed repairs to maintain the structural integrity of the building should accompany the building's appraisal.