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Library leaders urge New Britain council to approve 13% funding increase for public library
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Summary
Library trustees, staff and patrons told the New Britain Common Council on April 15 that a Board of Finance recommendation of 3% would shrink services and that the library’s requested 13% increase is needed to cover wage, insurance and program costs; a public hearing is set for April 28.
Library trustees, staff and patrons urged the New Britain Common Council on April 15 to fully fund the New Britain Public Library’s request for a 13% operating increase for fiscal year 2026–27, saying smaller raises would reduce services and make it harder to retain qualified staff.
John Whalen, vice president of the library board of trustees, told the council the board of finance had recommended a 3% increase but that the library’s needs are greater. He said the library’s operating budget represents about 1.24% of the city’s total budget and warned, “it will mean diminished services to the residents of New Britain” if funding is limited to the smaller increase. Whalen told the council the library estimates a 3% increase would provide roughly $102,000, an 8% increase about $272,000 and the requested 13% about $441,000 in additional annual funding.
Victor Schobert (listed on the council’s speaker roster) described increased demand at the library over the past two years—visitor counts up 29%, digital circulation up 74%, program attendance up 57%—and said low wages make recruiting and retention difficult. Jason Villani, a reference librarian and president of the library’s CSEA 2001 chapter, said staff provide services ranging from homework help and job counseling to homebound delivery and language conversation groups. “There’s no other return on investment as far as tax dollars spent compared to the positive civic, cultural, educational, recreational, and social output that a library does for a community,” Villani said.
Speakers asked the council to recognize cost pressures including a state‑mandated minimum wage increase, 2026 Social Security COLA (2.6–2.8% mentioned by a speaker) and a planned insurance increase the library estimated at about 21%. James Russell Blackwood, a resident, also spoke in support of fully funding the request, saying the library had enriched his civic and cultural life.
The chair closed public participation at 6:43 p.m. and reminded residents the council will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on April 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
