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Library director outlines FY27 budget guidance and modest operational cuts to meet 2.9% target
Summary
Trustees were told to plan for a 2.9% FY27 budget target; the director proposed operational savings such as stopping routine paper overdue notices (about $2,000) and shifting out-of-state interlibrary loan shipping costs to patrons (about $800) to avoid staff or collection cuts.
The library director told trustees at the Dec. 9 meeting that the finance director had instructed departments to target a 2.9% FY27 budget. "The goal is to hit a 2.9% budget, which is somewhere in between level funded and level service for us," the director said, adding that under that target the library would not need to cut staff or its collections.
To find savings the director described small operational changes rather than program reductions. She said the library would stop routinely printing and mailing overdue notices, which she estimated costs "about just shy of $2,000" annually, and would test shifting out-of-state interlibrary loan (ILL) shipping costs to patrons (about $800 a year). She said the change would apply only to out-of-state loans and that the library would continue core ILL support for typical in-state requests.
The director also said staff are seeking a new copier contract and may reduce the number of large machines in the building from three to two. She described these measures as inconveniences rather than service cuts and said the library would monitor the effect of changes such as stopping paper billing on material return rates.
Trustees asked whether federal or state grant programs could offset needs; staff noted that IMLS and other funders can stabilize specific costs and expand programming. The director said the library is often able to pursue grants for modest capital projects (for example, furniture or small remodels) that do not require a town appropriation.
Next steps: Staff will continue to refine budget options, monitor the effect of stopping paper bills on return rates, and present more detailed recommendations during budget preparations.
