Carmel Public Library trustees review proposed 2025–26 budget as city council considers cuts that could affect hours and staffing

At a meeting of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Library Board of Trustees, library staff presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 line‑item budget and outlined areas of uncertainty, including interest income, subscription costs and potential city council reductions that could affect staffing and weekend hours.

Library staff said the draft projects about $430,000 in total income for 2025–26, an increase of roughly $1,500 from the current year, and described several revenue and cost variables that could change the final numbers. “We arrived at $25,000 in estimated interest income for the next fiscal year,” the staff member said, and noted an anticipated $35,000 contribution from the Friends of the Library and a standing request to the Carmel Public Library Foundation at the same level as the prior year.

The budget presentation stressed why the draft matters: decisions on interest assumptions, foundation and friends’ support, IT upgrades and e‑resource subscriptions will shape staffing and services next year. Trustees discussed possible budget directions and asked staff for additional detail before final adoption.

Discussion highlights

- Interest and other income: Staff said interest receipts have been variable post‑pandemic and the draft assumes $25,000 in interest income for 2025–26. Staff described the Friends of the Library as performing well and added an estimated $5,000 over current levels, for $35,000 total from that source in the draft.

- Overall projection and reserves: Staff reported an anticipated $430,000 in income and noted the library’s equipment reserve of about $100,000 as a place to draw for unplanned IT or equipment needs.

- IT and computers: Trustees and staff discussed an imminent need to move to Windows 11 because extended security support for Windows 10 is ending. Staff estimated a wholesale replacement of public and staff computers at about $25,000 and proposed using the equipment reserve if necessary. Staff also said the city is planning a citywide IT audit and cybersecurity review that may affect timing and cost. The board asked staff to run Microsoft’s compatibility checks on existing machines and to return with results.

- Library IT governance: Staff raised the idea of exploring whether the library should operate its own IT environment separate from the city to be more nimble; trustees asked to agendize that as a future discussion item.

- Circulation‑desk replacement: Staff said the Park Branch circulation desk is not ergonomic and presented three cost estimates; trustees were told demolition and rewiring work had been preliminarily scoped and would not require extensive rewiring. The draft included approximately $14,000 for the desk replacement.

- Programs and collections: Staff reported steady or rising in‑person program attendance, strong children’s circulation, ongoing teen programming growth and continuing work on oral history and genealogy efforts. Hard‑copy adult circulation has not returned to pre‑pandemic levels but is increasing gradually. Staff said the library is maintaining current program budgets.

- E‑resources: The board heard that OverDrive/Libby remains the primary digital consortium and that Hoopla has been sunset. Staff said Kanopy streaming currently averages about $2,000 per month and that the Palace Project’s long‑term status is uncertain pending broader state and federal funding decisions. Staff included a $2,500 placeholder in the draft for possible New York Times access while awaiting pricing and usage statistics.

- Flipster and state park passes: Staff reported that Flipster subscriptions will end in June and that a handful of magazine titles will not migrate to Newsstand; print copies will remain for some titles. The draft does not include funding for California State Parks passes beyond 12/30/2025, and staff said the program will need review if the state discontinues free passes.

City council budget context

Staff briefed trustees on the Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea city council’s recommended budget framework, which moves toward spending a larger share of funds on operations and reduced capital outlay and has a roughly $600,000 rebalancing gap compared with a 90/10 operating/capital target. Staff said one of the council’s options that would directly affect library operations is a proposed $50,000 reduction to the library budget, which could translate to staffing cuts or reduced hours, including the possible elimination of Saturday hours. Staff described that as a union and operational issue that would require further negotiation and said the board should follow council proceedings.

Next steps, directions and requests

Trustees asked staff to provide more precise cost estimates where possible, including the final prices and usage statistics for a New York Times subscription, results of Windows 11 compatibility checks for existing computers, and clearer year‑by‑year linkages between the strategic plan and budget line items. Staff said they would share updated figures with the foundation and the board ahead of the board’s final vote. The board discussed adopting the budget at the next meeting if no major changes are needed.

Why it matters

The draft budget discussion touches on core services — public access computers, weekend hours, materials and digital subscriptions — that directly affect local patrons, children’s and teen programming and the library’s ability to respond to technology and subscription cost changes. Trustees were urged to monitor upcoming city council budget workshops and to supply questions or direction to staff for the final budget report.

Ending

Staff encouraged trustees to review the council staff report and to attend a May workshop the city scheduled for a deeper budget review. Staff said they will return with updated numbers and clarifications before the board’s next scheduled vote.