Pearl River Public Library Budget, Trustees Vote Held Tuesday

The proposed Pearl River Public Library budget for 2012-13 includes a 1.99% tax increase.

"It is very similar to last year's budget," said Pearl River Library Director Kathy Rose. "The thing that is different in general from previous years is the (state) mandated two percent tax cap. We, like the town and the school district, are mandated to abide by it. The tax levy increase is 2.18 percent. That is within the amount permissible when the exemptions are included."

The proposed budget and a seat on the library's board of trustees will be on the ballot for the annual vote Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the library. An itemized comparison of the current budget to the proposed one for 2012-2013 is attached to this report along with profile information for the two candidates for the library board of trustees -- Jennifer Brebbia Rankin and Elizabeth A. Van Wynen. 

Rose said that keeping the tax increase low was a focal point regardless of the cap. The proposed budget does not include any cuts in hours or programs.

"In the five year's I've been director, we've been trying to keep the tax increases as low as possible," Rose said. "We are looking to provide service at the same hours that people have come to expect. If we could renegotiate a contract here or there or cut supplies, we did. For example, in postage we cut $750 because so many more people use email."

One change that helped is that the Pearl River Library no longer has to pay the MTA Payroll Tax, which accounted for $4,047 in the 2011-12 budget. 

The largest increase came in personnel, from $1,190,475 to $1,220,000, which is still a little more than half of the library's total projected budget of $2,227,708.

State retirement funding costs also went up $10,000 and gas and electric costs are increasing by $5,000.

"The last few years our budget has passed with a high plurality," Rose said. "It is always wonderful to have it pass that way, that there is such support from the community. We hear that all year long, not just in the vote."

The 2011-12 budget passed with 80.8 percent of the vote, though only 261 people participated. 

"I have in year past always gone out to vote for the budget and (trustees)," Van Wynen said. "I feel I've earned the right to vote and I don't want to be neglectful of my civic-minded duties. We need to do a better job getting the word out about the library.

"The budget is important. Getting people out to vote is definitely an important thing. 

"I think letting people know about the budget (is important)," Rankin said. "I'm hoping to get voters out that have not come out in the past. Parents tell me they are coming out to vote. Getting people out is something we can do a better job of. I have three small kids and I vote for the library and the school budgets. It is a doable thing if people are motivated to get there."  

For more on Larkin and Van Wynen, click here.

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