Blackstone trustees review budget adjustments, LIGMIG reserve and planned patron technology purchases

The Board of Library Trustees of the Town of Blackstone heard updates March 10 on the library’s operating budget, reserves and planned technology purchases ahead of the April meeting cycle.

Library Director Lisa Cheever told trustees the only remaining FY24 encumbrance is the picnic table and that adjustments made at a recent special town meeting increased the books and periodicals line to $122,000 and raised the head of circulation salary to $47,800. “The only thing that is still encumbered is the picnic table,” Cheever said.

The discussion mattered because the trustees must identify available funds for upcoming programs and purchases. Cheever presented an updated LIGMIG reserve showing $27,000 set aside and $31,068.13 unencumbered and available for spending. She also reported the gift account balance as $11,004.59 and said revolving-account purchases for items such as ink and paper will appear on the next warrant.

Trustees asked how the library plans to meet the state aid reporting rule that requires 10% of the books and periodicals line to be spent on patron-facing technology. Cheever said the library intends to buy two public desktop computers and several laptops for patrons and that monthly hotspot fees can also count toward the 10% technology requirement for the state aid report. “We’ll do 2 patron computers and the rest will be laptops,” Cheever said.

Trustees were also told payroll lines are on target, with longevity payments scheduled in the final FY25 payroll. The director noted travel and technology lines may be overspent but that the overall bottom line should cover them.

On reserve accounting, Cheever provided an updated LIGMIG reserve sheet; trustees confirmed the unencumbered balance of about $31,068 would be the working amount for discretionary use. Revolving-account purchases (ink and paper) will be charged to that account this month, Cheever said.

Trustees did not take further formal action on the operating budget at the meeting; they were reminded of the town’s pre‑meeting deadlines and the schedule for finance committee recommendations ahead of May town meeting.

Less urgent housekeeping items covered in the finance discussion included weekly warrants now due Tuesdays at town hall (vouchers previously went in on a different schedule) and an outstanding Lindt Bank deposit the director said she would follow up on this week.

Looking ahead, trustees were asked to monitor the account sheets provided in the meeting packet and notify the director if they need additional detail before the next meeting on April 14.