Sunnyvale trustees recommend council approve $780 million budget that adds staff for Lakewood branch

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — The Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustees voted 4-0 on May 28 to recommend that the City Council approve the city—s FY25-26 recommended budget, a plan City Finance Director Matt Paul said "meets all of our legal requirements" and would increase staffing and dollars for library services, including the new Lakewood branch.

The recommended budget, as presented by Paul, projects about $780,000,000 in revenue and roughly $705,000,000 in spending, producing a planned contribution of a bit more than $75,000,000 to reserves across city funds. Paul said the general fund will intentionally draw down reserves this year to address pension obligations but that, overall, the budget meets charter and council policy requirements, includes 20-year financial plans by fund and follows city reserve policies.

Trustees said the budget matters for library operations because it funds new positions and service hours at the Lakewood branch, accelerates some maintenance at the main library and keeps project money set aside after last year—s library bond did not pass.

Paul told the trustees the package is a "project budget cycle" that adds staff and project spending; he said the budget includes newly funded positions and the unfreezing of previously unfunded posts. He said the recommended staffing would allow the Lakewood branch to open approximately six days a week (about 48 hours), and that the budget includes a mix of new full-time and reconfigured part-time library specialist positions to staff the branch.

On specific figures, Paul said grants are included in the budget totals. He said the city expects to keep roughly $15 million allocated for Civic Center Phase 2 in the projects budget despite the bond measure failing, and that a portion of those funds will be used to address immediate maintenance needs at the main library, including bathroom repairs.

Board members pressed staff on details. Trustee Liu asked whether the presented figures included grant revenue; Paul replied, "Grants are included in the figures." Trustees also asked about hiring timing: Paul said most new positions would become effective July 1 and that hiring will be staggered in coordination with human resources, with some early hires (for example, the branch manager) prioritized before the branch opens. He described existing recruitments at the main library that may produce eligible lists usable for Lakewood hires.

Paul said the budget presentation is the Trustees— opportunity to make a recommendation to the City Council; the city will hold an all‑day council budget workshop later in the week, a public hearing (staff said on June 3) and final adoption (staff said on June 17). Paul also said staff will bring a study session to the City Council on July 29 to present options for future library service delivery following the failed bond, including multiple-branch scenarios, mobile services, and other delivery models.

A member of the public, Lloyd Mendel, praised the six-day plan for Lakewood as important to serving North Sunnyvale residents. Trustees and staff also highlighted planned IT upgrades in the library budget and the continuation of a partially grant-funded adult literacy position.

The board made two formal motions during the meeting: one to approve the April 7, 2025 meeting minutes (approved 4-0) and the recommendation that the City Council approve the FY25-26 recommended budget (approved 4-0). No public speakers spoke on the budget item at the hearing.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve Board of Library Trustees meeting minutes of 04/07/2025. Outcome: approved, tally 4-0. - Motion: Recommend that City Council approve the FY25-26 recommended budget (agenda item 250596). Outcome: approved, tally 4-0.

The trustees— recommendation now advances to the City Council for further deliberation at the scheduled council hearings and adoption dates cited by staff.