The Port Washington Library Board of Trustees on Wednesday presented a proposed $7.34 million budget for 2016-17 that calls for a 1.35 percent increase in spending of $100,000.
The proposed budget calls for an 1.39 percent tax levy increase, which library officials said is within the state-mandated tax cap.
“We have carefully reviewed each item in order to find savings where possible, without reducing the services that our community expects and deserves,” Board President Robert Aitken said at a meeting held at the Port Washington Public Library.
Officials said the increase in expenses in the budget include $50,00 for salaries and $15,000 for security.
Curtin said the increases in salaries are required under the library workers’ contract with the library.
The increase in security, she said, is to meet state security requirements.
Other expenses include library materials and operations, building operations, repairs, equipment and debt service, she said.
“We try our best to be as accurate in our budget planning as possible,” Curtin said. “But it is a plan and things change throughout the year.”
The proposed budget also includes new software purchases, including eBooks.
“As we know the way people read, the way people research is changing,” Curtin said.
Most of the revenue in the budget is from property taxes, making up more than $7.1 million of the proposed budget.
Other sources are from payments in lieu of taxes, interest, local sources of revenue such as fines and fees, and state sources such as grants, officials said.
The library also intends to turn the Children’s Room into the Jackie and Harold Spielman Children’s Library.
Curtin said the space is going to be completely renovated with a new design to include updated technology, as well as expanded workshop and reading space.
The project’s cost is estimated at $1.5 million and will be funded by private donations, grants and capital reserves, with no additional burden placed on the taxpayer, Curtin said.
“We transform our building to meet the needs of a community that starves for public space, where everyone is welcome, no one is judged, and each member of the community is free to work, learn, gather interact, be informed, be entertained, or simply relax,” Aitken said.
Residents can attend an information session on March 30 to learn more about the budget and to meet the candidates running for two open trustee seats.
Candidates running include, library Trustee Nancy Comer; William Keller, the vice president of the finance and administration department at Queens College; Jeff Siegel, a web developer and programmer; Ronit Daniel, director of sales operations at ORICS Industries Inc.; and Port Washington resident Eric Kruger.
The library board will hold trustee elections at the same time as the budget is voted on — April 12 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
