Blackstone trustees preview FY26 budget and vote to submit FY26 action plan to MBLC

At the Sept. 9 meeting the Blackstone Board of Library Trustees reviewed a preliminary FY26 budget and voted to submit the library's FY26 action plan to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).

Director Lisa Cheever presented a draft FY26 budget for board review, emphasizing that the packet was preliminary and that some numbers (including a circulation-head salary line) may change depending on a pending union contract and upcoming salary-survey results. Cheever said she modeled a 6% increase in at least one staff line to account for possible raises and that she added modest stipends for the assistant director and custodian.

Cheever also described two proposed personnel additions included in the draft: a part-time technology assistant (tech assistant) and an 8-hour-per-week children's-room aide. She said the tech-assistant role would primarily help patrons with tech classes and manage patron computers; Cheever said the children's-room aide was added into the FY26 draft and could be funded by shifting existing part-time hours.

Board members asked for follow-up on the salary-survey results and timing of town budget submissions. Cheever said the town accountant/administrator (Lauren Taylor) is handling budget scheduling and that the library is preparing for town deadlines.

The board then voted to submit the FY26 action plan as written to the MBLC. Trustee Kate Reno moved to submit the action plan and Jean Alexandowitz seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

Cheever also reminded trustees that part of the library's LSTA grant is on a two-year timeline: "that 882... is actually gonna be less because you have some invoices... That has to be spent by September 30th for the first year of our grant. Then we'll get the check for the next year of the grant in October," she said, underlining a near-term spending deadline the board and staff must observe.