Cochise County library district presents FY26 budget, seeks board guidance on contingency and long‑range plans

Britney, a staff member with the Cochise County Library District, told the county board during a presentation Oct. 25 that the district expects property tax revenue to rise to $1,695,086 for fiscal year 2026, up about 3% from $1,638,029 in FY25. "The library district is a small department, but we provide countywide service," Britney said, summarizing services and staffing.

The district operates five rural branch libraries plus a headquarters in Bisbee and provides software and delivery support to seven municipal libraries across the county. Britney said the district employs 13 people, which equates to just under 10 full‑time equivalents across six locations; one position is dedicated entirely to deliveries between libraries and another mostly to home delivery to patrons in residences and assisted‑living facilities.

Why this matters: the presentation signaled that countywide library services hinge on a narrow budget and a rebuilt contingency fund while demand for broadband and digital resources in rural areas remains high. The district asked the board for direction on long‑range planning and how to use its contingency carryforward.

Budget details and major expense lines Britney presented line items the district sees as large drivers of cost in FY26. Employee salaries and employee‑related expenses (EREs) were listed at $705,853 for FY25 and projected at $777,818 for FY26, reflecting higher personnel costs. Collection expenses (print books, ebooks and other materials) are "just under $300,000," and…