Lakeville trustees keep library spending frozen through fiscal year end

The Town of Lakeville Library Trustees kept a spending freeze in place for unappropriated budget lines, with purchases limited through the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Jennifer Jones, library director, told trustees that “we are in a spending freeze. We are not spending any budget money outside of utilities, contracts, necessary items.” She said that purchases for state aid-funded materials and essential items such as utilities and contracted services continue, but other supplies and discretionary purchases require approval.

Jones said approvals for nonessential spending must come from the town administrator, Souk Ford, and Michael Ellis, town accountant. She said she placed a small May order and intends to postpone larger book orders until July while the freeze remains in effect. Jones also reported a $20 anonymous donation to purchase a book and said she is investigating reported losses from a trust account tied to a proposed phonics materials purchase.

Trustees discussed whether state-aid purchases require additional town review; Jones said she has not had questions about the state-aid purchases yet. The trustees confirmed the freeze covers unappropriated money and that budget lines for utilities and personnel remain available.

Less-critical items such as postage and general supplies will likely see no movement until after June 30, Jones said. The trustees did not take additional formal action at the meeting on the freeze beyond confirming current practice and monitoring outstanding proposals.

The trustees set the next meeting for June 25 at 9 a.m.