The Bryant Library Board of Trustees on Monday introduced a $4,935,910 budget for the 2016-17 that calls for a 3.8 percent spending increase of $188,987 over 2015-16.
The budget also calls for a 1.5 percent increase or $75,074 in the tax levy, which Library Director Victor Caputo said is below the state-mandated tax cap.
“With the tax cap as low as it is, everything from last year’s budget basically stays the same,” Caputo said.
The budget calls for a 2 percent spending increase of $425,045 on library materials and programs — with a $6,000 spending decrease on books and electronic subscriptions while spending on programs remain the same at $51,400.
“We’re definitely under the tax cap and we are still providing the services our residents have enjoyed over the years,” Caputo said.
The library is budgeting $9,800 for museum passes and other materials for next year — up 1,053 percent from 2016-17.
Caputo said the museum passes expenses will be covered by funds from the Friends of Bryant Library.
The library is also anticipating a 2.1 percent spending increase in salaries and employee benefits to $4,037,295 from last year’s $3,954,253.
Salaries are slated to go up 2 percent to $2,843,352 and benefits like Social Security, health and dental insurance and worker’s compensation are budgeted at $773,661 — a $42,477 increase.
The library anticipates New York State retirement spending will decrease by 3.5 percent to $420,282.
The budget calls for a decrease in library operations from $274,638 to $265,183.
Under the library operations expenses, the NYS-MCTMAX expenses is slated to go from $9,500 to zero in 2016-17.
The New York State Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Mobility tax was established in 2009 by the state to help fund the MTA. It was imposed employers and freelancers in business within the metropolitan commuter transportation district
The Bryant library has been paying more than $9,000 every year since 2009.
“You’ll see we had to pay the MTA tax last year. We don’t have to pay it anymore. None of the other libraries is paying that anymore.,” Caputo said.
There will be a reduction in building operations spending from $274,638 to $265,183. Expenses for telephones, supplies, building service contracts and repairs and building equipment all remain the same but there will be a decrease in fuel and utilities from $84,250 to $83,000.
The library is budgeting $266,000 for capital outlays — up 70 percent from 2016-17.
Caputo said the library’s share of capital projects’ cost is expected to be offset by state aid.
“There’s grant money coming in to pay for the bathroom renovations and roof replacements this summer,” he said.
The library is expecting $233,413 in revenues up from last year’s $119,550.
Caputo said the library is slated to receive $193,503 in state aid — up 266 percent from what it received in 2016-17.
“Grant and state aid is way up,” Caputo said.
He said the library applies for grants to offset costs for capital improvement projects.
“We’re recouping that much money from it,” he said.
On May 17, between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Roslyn High School, residents will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
