BY JOHN NUGENT
The Great Neck Library Board of Trustees met virtually on March 10 to conduct its first workshop for a proposed 2021-22 budget of $9.7 million. The total is projected to be $57,000 lower than the previous year.
Steven Kashkin, chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee, provided specifics on anticipated revenue and expense items in the new budget, which has been substantially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The game plan is we’re making the assumption in this first workshop that we will be just about fully operational by October 1, which would be three months into the new budget year,” he said. Accordingly, a number of operating revenue line items have been reduced by 25% as patrons are not expected to be permitted back into the buildings during that three-month period.
The most significant expense item on the balance sheet is employee salaries and benefits, which are projected to total $6.1 million, a reduction of $309,000 from the prior year. Staff retirements and reduction or elimination of some part-time positions accounted for some of the decreased expense. Kashkin noted that there are now 17 open positions. However, only 10 have been budgeted for next year.
On the revenue side of the ledger, interest income is expected to decrease from $20,000 to $2,000, reflecting a dramatic drop in various fees collected such as for computer printouts, copy machine reproductions and overdue book fines. Also, Kashkin stated that with very low interest rates, cash deposited in banks reaps little return.
Board Treasurer Chelsea Sassouni questioned the amount of $26,289 in expected revenue from fines. Although the figure is reduced by 25% from the past year’s number of $35,000, Sassouni pointed out that the library is not collecting any fines now and said she does not know what the board intends to do on this policy when library operations return to normal.
Board Vice President Mimi Hu added that the policy on late fees and fines has been discussed since 2019. She said that many other libraries have instituted amnesty programs and there is strong support for one in the community.
Weihua Yan, president of the board, said he favors a conservative approach in estimating fine revenue. Until the board adopts a policy on amnesty, Yan recommended an entry of zero in the “fines” line item to avoid overstating expected revenue from that source.
In response to questions about staffing requirements during construction projects at two branches, George Trepp, the interim library director, told the board that current plans are for the Station branch to be closed from late March through August after which work will commence on the Parkville branch, with expected completion there at the end of December.
The board scheduled a second budget workshop session on March 22.
