Carmel-by-the-Sea trustees review proposed 2025–26 library budget as city signals possible cuts

Carmel-by-the-Sea — The Carmel-by-the-Sea Library Board of Trustees reviewed a proposed 2025–26 line-item budget and discussed potential impacts from the City Council’s draft city budget, including a possible $50,000 reduction in library funding that could affect staffing and hours.

The library’s staff report to trustees said there are no major programmatic changes proposed for the coming year, and summarized current revenue and expenditure assumptions. “We were conservative with the interest rates,” the staff member said, noting the board’s estimate of $25,000 in interest income and a projected $35,000 from Friends of the Library donations. The staff member said total anticipated income for 2025–26 is about $430,000, an increase of roughly $1,500 over the current year.

Trustees were briefed on planned equipment and IT spending. The report said the library holds an equipment replacement reserve of about $100,000 and that an initial estimate for a wholesale replacement of public and staff computers is about $25,000. The replacement of the circulation desk at the Park Branch — described as a “big wall” that hinders service to children — was presented with multiple cost estimates; trustees asked about a $14,000 figure for that replacement. The staff…