A representative of the county library told the Binghamton finance committee on Sept. 30 that the library expects the county’s proposed 2026 contribution to be reduced, and that the system will rely on reserves and local funding to preserve staff levels.

The presenter said the city of Binghamton is the library’s second-largest funder and that the city’s contractual contribution is required to increase each year based on the consumer price index. By contrast, county funding can fluctuate based on the county budget, the speaker said.

The library official said the system will draw from its fund balance to cover the shortfall and that the executive’s proposed county budget depends on a planned withdrawal of about $350,000 from the library’s reserves. The speaker told councilors, “This budget also relies on us withdrawing 350,000 from that fund balance,” and added that the fund balance before the withdrawal is roughly $1 million. They said the withdrawal does not affect current personnel: “We are keeping all of the staff that we’ve added over my five years at the library.”

The official said reductions will be felt most in purchases of books and materials rather than staffing, and said the library plans to preserve peer‑support services and other community programs. The peer‑support program is currently operated with UHS peers providing six hours a week; the presenter said bringing back Catholic Charities peers and other partners depends on planned building renovations, code review and space reconfigurations at the library’s rotunda and second‑floor bathrooms.

Committee members asked for a final county budget document when it is available; the library representative said the final county approval is typically in November and offered to forward the approved county budget page that details the library lines.

Council members also discussed digital resources (Libby and Hoopla); the presenter offered to provide month‑by‑month use and circulation statistics in a follow‑up. The committee did not take any formal vote on the item at the hearing.