The Manhasset Library Board of Trustees introduced a $5,126,806 budget for 2016-17 last Thursday that calls for a 1.9 percent increase of $95,593 in spending over 2015-16.
The budget also calls for a 1.9 percent increase in the tax levy, which officials said is below the state-mandated tax cap.
Trustee Donald O’Brien said the budget was sent to residents last week to allow them “to educate themselves before the elections.”
O’Brien, who is the treasurer of the Board of Trustees, said the board needed to approve several decreases in spending to offset a proposed 8.2 percent increase for employees, both current and those the library intends to hire.
“Naturally, every year, we are contractually obligated to give a raise and put out staffing positions for the library,” O’Brien said.
He said the spending on employees, which the board proposes to increase from $2,818,244 to $3,049,850, includes salaries, payroll taxes, health insurance and pensions.
“As you can see, the employee spending is significant,” O’Brien said.
The budget, he said, calls for expenditures for materials to increase 1 percent to $326,400. This includes a spending increase from $50,000 to $53,400 for online databases.
Other expenses for books, electronic media, e-books, online databases, periodicals and microfilm will remain the same.
Library Director Maggie Gough said in the coming year she wants to maintain the teen programming at the library while increasing multi-generational programming, and programming not typically offered at libraries.
“You know, like special education programming,” Gough said.
She said adult education programming at the library will remain solid.
She also said she wants to bring in more local authors, preview arts from local artists and continue the history project that was started in 2015.
Gough said the budget calls for a 17 percent decrease in professional fees that include legal, accounting, engineering, insurance, and payroll payments.
“We are currently not in any kind of legal situation,” she said of the reduced expenses.
Gough noted that the library’s legal fees increases whenever it is conducting any kind of bidding.
The library also budgeted $400,300 for building and maintenance, a $66,300 decrease from last year’s expenses.
O’Brien said the library had to cut some spending to remain under the tax cap.
Five years ago, the library started what is called the “Building Replacement Fund,” a cash reserve fund to be used in unforeseen or large renovations and expenses, he said.
O’Brien said if the library had to replace a mechanical equipment or refurbish the carpets or chairs, for example, it could draw from the fund.
“In the beginning years, it wasn’t necessary. Everything was relatively new with a couple of years of warranty,” O’Brien said.
To stay below the cap, he said, the library cut the amount it is putting in the fund from $45,000 to $5,500.
“It’s just good prudent management,” O’Brien said.
Gough said the library drew from the fund last year to fix cracks and re-stripe the entire parking lot, for the first time in 10 years.
The 2016-17 budget also calls for a cut in spending for the History Center Project Fund, which is aimed to provide historical materials with the display of photos, books and literature.
“Ideally, we’ll like to have increases, but we have to stay under the tax cap,” O’Brien said.
Gough said the decrease was due to a $20,000 grant she was able to secure from state Sen. Jack Martin’s office.
The budget also calls for $1,072,269 to service a $13,200,000 bond it used in 2011 to refinance capital projects.
“I think they did a savvy job with the refinancing and saved the library a lot of money,” Gough said.
Ninety-eight percent of the library’s revenue comes from the tax it levies on residents — the remaining 2 percent from things like late fees on books.
“Essentially, Manhasset residents will pay 98 cents on the dollar,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said the Manhasset School District collects the taxes for the library.
“They’re like out collector agent,” he said.
Gough said the revenue raised through property taxes is $55,000 less than allowed under the tax cap, which will give the library more flexibility next year.
On April 18, residents will go to the polls to vote on the budget and to fill the seat of Trustee Robert Carozzo, who chose to not run for re-election.
Resident Gloria Su, who ran unsuccessfully last year, is running unopposed for Carozzo’s seat.
