By Demi Guo
The Great Neck Library Board of Trustees adopted a $9.65 million budget for 2019-20 on Tuesday night.
The budget, first proposed last month, declined by about $4,000 from the current year.
The highlight, said Great Neck Library Business Manager Steve Kashkin, is that the district transferred funds to get a better interest rate and save taxpayer money. Interest income is expected to grow by $26,000.
Further, he said, the library is moving to full staffing. New full-time positions for 2020 include a webmaster marketing designer, a librarian for the Station location and a head clerk for circulation. Part-time positions include a STEM librarian for reference and a librarian for the Station location.
Total salary expenses are expected to rise by over $200,000 to $4.4 million due to this increase in positions. Total employee benefit expenses, however, are decreasing slightly by $45,146 to $2.1 million.
Other changes in the new budget include a decrease in library materials and programs.
“There is no tax increase,” said Rebecca Miller, president of the board.
“We’re very pleased to have gotten this done for the next year,” said Treasurer Josie Pizer.
The budget is effective from July 1 to June 30, 2020.
