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Library trustees warn SEA 1 could cut Hussey‑Mayfield budget by half
Summary
Hussey‑Mayfield Memorial Public Library trustees told Boone County commissioners that Senate Enrolled Act 1 could reduce key local funding streams and potentially shrink the library’s budget by about 50% by 2028; trustees said they are reviewing contracts and staffing to prepare for several funding scenarios.
Hussey‑Mayfield Memorial Public Library trustees told the Boone County Commissioners on Feb. 9 that state legislation signed last year could sharply reduce local library revenues and force major budget adjustments.
Kristen Shelley, the library’s executive director, said Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1) will affect property‑tax revenues and the local option income tax, the two main funding sources for the library. "By 2028, the Hussey‑Mayfield Memorial Public Library could be facing a 50% budget reduction," Shelley said, characterizing that figure as a worst‑case projection and explaining that trustees have begun reviewing contracts and staffing patterns to prepare for multiple scenarios.
Ken Kopecki, a trustee whom the commissioners appointed last year, introduced the library’s presentation and said the board appreciates the county’s support. Colleen Hill, vice president of the trustees, supplemented Shelley’s remarks with usage metrics and outreach examples. The trustees emphasized community services beyond book lending, including diaper and shoe drives, gifts for seniors via the library’s bookmobile and the Whitestone branch opening.
Shelley and trustees said they are examining every contract and staffing arrangement, seeking ways to reduce costs while preserving core services. Trustees presented usage data to underscore the library’s role: they reported service to roughly 40,000 people in the library’s service area, more than half of eligible residents, and noted program participation and mobile delivery to seniors.
The trustees asked commissioners to note the financial uncertainty and to consider the library’s contingency planning as the legislature and state implementation details of SEA 1 evolve. No formal county action on library funding was proposed at the meeting; trustees said they will continue planning and return with budget requests or options as needed.
The presentation concluded with commissioners expressing appreciation for the library’s outreach work and acknowledging the uncertainty created by the recent state law.
