Funds for maintenance and support; special taxes; exception; libraries jointly established; sharing of expenses; payment for library service

A. The governing authority of a parish or municipality establishing a library under the provisions of this Part may on its own initiative and shall, when requested by a petition of not less than twenty-five percent of the duly qualified property taxpayers resident, submit to the property taxpayers a proposition to vote a special tax, as provided by the constitution and laws of this state, for the maintenance and support of such public library and its branches. This tax, if voted, shall be levied and assessed annually as authorized by the voters and collected and used exclusively for the support and maintenance of the public library, except as provided in R.S. 25:213(B). B. In all cases where a public library is jointly established and maintained, each parish and municipal corporation concerned shall contribute its pro rata or equitable share of the costs and expenses. Each such corporation shall be as nearly as possible equally represented on the board of control, and the presiding officer of each governing authority shall be an ex officio member of the board. C. Parishes or municipalities receiving library service from another parish or municipality may contract and pay for the same either out of general funds or out of special funds voted, levied, and collected for that purpose. The parish or municipality receiving such funds for such service shall use and expend the funds for library purposes only.