Samuels Public Library asks Warren County for 16.5% funding increase; supervisors defer pending library-board review

Samuels Public Library trustees presented a fiscal year 2026 funding request to the Board of Supervisors seeking a $169,261 increase (16.5%) in county support, bringing the county appropriation sought to about $1.19 million.

Trustee and director representatives said the request primarily covers personnel costs (including a 3% proposed COLA), increases in health insurance costs the trustees absorbed for staff, a rotating technology-replacement fund, and newly contracted facility maintenance that county staff previously performed. The trustees explained the library had not grown its county funding at the same pace as operating costs: “In 2009 our combined county and town funding was $538,191…we have not even doubled our funding in that time,” the trustees’ representative said, laying out staffing (22 employees) and program growth tied to new grant-funded projects such as a Mellon Foundation award.

The trustees said Mellon funding supports program expansions (digital archiving, oral histories, Studio 330), but those restricted grant dollars do not cover day-to-day operations. The trustees provided audited statements and emphasized volunteer value and fundraising but said they were presenting a “what-it-costs-to-run” budget that did not rely on fundraising offsets.

Board reaction: Several supervisors pressed staff on whether the county should resume providing facility-maintenance support that the trustees say the county previously supplied. One supervisor noted the county’s prior practice of handling building maintenance and suggested the county and library should revisit the MOA and lease terms about who funds maintenance. Another supervisor said the library board should evaluate the funding request; the chair said he would defer decision-making until the county library board completes a formal review of services and costs.

Why it matters: Samuels is the county’s major public library and a high-use public service; a 16.5% county funding increase is a substantial budget ask with implications for county priorities. Trustees argue the increase is driven by contracted facility maintenance, higher employee-benefit costs, and a desire to maintain programming funded by grants.

Immediate next steps: Supervisors asked for a detailed breakout of FY25 actuals and FY26 proposed line items (operations, salaries, benefits, and grant-restricted funds). They also directed administration to confirm whether the county’s maintenance services and any facilities-insurance responsibilities remain obligations under the signed funding agreement and lease. One supervisor asked administration to prepare an inventory of county-owned properties and how they are used before further decisions are made.