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Eastern Area Public Library presents 2025–26 budget request to Easton Area SD; asks district to collect $1.87 million via special library tax
Summary
Library director presented the Eastern Area Public Library operating budget for 2025–26 and requested the district collect $1,871,364 from the special library tax; director highlighted circulation, sharing partnership and community programs.
The Eastern Area Public Library presented its proposed 2025–26 operating budget to the Easton Area School District standing committee Tuesday, asking the district to collect $1,871,364 via the district's special library tax collection role.
Library director (presenter) told the board the library's total operating budget request is $2,722,119 and that $1,871,364 of that amount is requested from the special library tax revenues the district collects on the library's behalf. "Public libraries do not have the authority to collect taxes in the state of Pennsylvania," the director reminded the board while describing the arrangement.
Program highlights and financial context The director said the library is proposing a modest 3 percent operating increase (approximately $54,506) over the prior year and described several service highlights: participation in a 25‑library resource‑sharing partnership across the Lehigh Valley that produced more than 255,000 shared loans in the past year; roughly 200,000 annual in‑person visits across the main and Palmer branch; more than 15,000 registered cardholders with about 100 new registrations monthly; loaned museum passes and 90 mobile Wi‑Fi hotspots; and a robust summer reading program starting June 16.
Library access and community partnerships The director noted the library provides online access to local news archives and to research databases, supplies loanable museum passes and devices to close the digital divide, and described outreach efforts to register new residents and fourth‑grade classes. She also thanked the district for acting as the library's taxing municipality and described the relationship as a longstanding, century‑plus partnership.
Board questions and follow-up Board members thanked the director and had no substantive questions during the standing committee presentation. The director closed by offering to answer any follow‑up budget questions and reiterated appreciation for the district's tax‑collection role.
Ending The library's request will be part of the district's normal budget and tax‑rate process. The director said the library will continue public programming and outreach but did not request an immediate board vote during the standing-committee session.
