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Franklin trustees brace for mayor's $1M city budget gap; library staff to testify before finance committee
Summary
Library trustees reviewed the library's recommended budget, identified line-item corrections and possible $10,000 in savings, and confirmed plans to appear before the city finance committee as the mayor presented a $1 million shortfall in the city budget.
At the Franklin Public Library board meeting on Sept. 22, trustees reviewed the mayor's recommended budget for the coming year and discussed a possible effect from a reported $1 million gap in the city's recommended spending plan. Trustees agreed to monitor the city process and some said they will attend the finance committee meeting Sept. 29 to present the library's budget.
The library's finance review flagged several line items and near-term uncertainties. Jennifer, library staff, told trustees that "the big unknown is ... library reciprocal borrowing" and said the budget includes a $58,000 placeholder for that revenue, based on recent years' totals. She said the library expects final reciprocal-borrowing numbers in early October because the reciprocal period runs Dec. 1 through Sept. 30.
Trustees said they found what they believe to be a carryover error in operating-supplies numbers that could free about $10,000. Alan Alexandrovitz, finance committee trustee, and Jennifer discussed moving a planned $20,000 carpeting expense from fund 15 to fund 16 to protect fund-balance targets. Jennifer also reported that through August Fund 15 revenue was 97.17% of budget and expenditures were 59.6% of budget; Fund 16 revenue was 71.26% and expenditures 52.11%.
Board members said the mayor's presentation and the finance committee schedule are raising concerns about potential citywide cuts. Trustee Maria Imp said she and others will attend the finance committee meeting next Monday, Sept. 29, at 5 p.m. and that the committee will present recommendations to the common council on Oct. 7; the council's public hearings and final vote are scheduled later in the process, with the final budget vote noted for Nov. 11.
Trustees did not vote on the mayor's recommended budget at the Sept. 22 meeting. They instructed staff to monitor the reciprocal-borrowing figures and to bring back a corrected budget document to the trustees if the preliminary numbers change. Trustees also discussed staffing and programming capacity if the board adds positions later in the budgeting process.
Less-critical items covered in the finance report included approval of invoices: Fund 15 invoices for $7,003.93 and Fund 16 invoices for $2,577.24 were approved by the board. Trustees noted the volunteer-recognition expense of $878 and that investment income remains strong.
Trustees agreed to return to the finance committee schedule and to share materials they would like Jennifer to present. The board emphasized it will try to protect library services while remaining mindful of the citywide shortfall.
Trustees said they will update the board after the finance committee meeting and will bring any recommended adjustments to the library's budget back to the trustees for formal action as needed.
