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Library director outlines FY27 request, cites maker‑space growth and trust funds for phased renovation
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Summary
Carnegie Stout Public Library Director Nick Rossman told the Dubuque City Council the library seeks roughly $4.6 million in property‑tax support for FY27 and plans a phase‑1 renovation funded largely from library trust balances to expand the maker space and reconfigure first‑floor service points; councilors pressed staff on why library CIP requests were not included in the recommended list.
Nick Rossman, director of the Carnegie Stout Public Library, presented the library’s proposed FY2027 operating and capital priorities to the Dubuque City Council during a special budget session on April 13.
Rossman said the library requests about $4.6 million in property‑tax support for FY27, which he said equates to approximately $71.86 for the average homeowner. He described FY25 performance measures — more than 225,000 visitors and about 45,000 cardholders — and said the library recorded roughly 850,000 total resource accesses across circulation, program attendance, database use and technology access.
Rossman highlighted an expanding maker space and new services that he said save community members money by providing access to equipment, technology and programming. “This year the library saw more than 225,000 visitors and…we’re saving the community $8,700,000,” Rossman said. He detailed maker‑space additions (a direct‑to‑film apparel printer and a 15‑thread embroidery machine), a self‑built laptop/iPad checkout kiosk and the Bridal Beginnings book‑box program that replaced a preschool delivery function previously provided through the school district and an Area Education Agency contract.
Rossman said the library’s board of trustees plans a phased, non‑square‑foot expansion (a “phase‑1 renovation”) that would expand the maker space, enlarge one circulation desk on the first floor, add reserved study and tutoring rooms and reconfigure the teen zone to reduce noise spill. He said the cost will be funded primarily from existing restricted and unrestricted library trust balances and gifts, and that no additional square footage is proposed in the phase‑1 plan.
Council members asked Rossman and city finance staff for detail about the library’s capital improvement package and why none of the library’s CIP requests were recommended for FY27. Jennifer Larson, the city’s chief financial officer, explained that the city maintains a five‑year capital improvement plan and that departments submit requests that are prioritized against available funding (including local option sales tax, enterprise funds and TIF); not all departmental requests can be funded each cycle. Rossman added that the library board had not submitted certain formal ‘‘improvement package’’ requests for recommendation, but that the library presents projects for council consideration as appropriate.
Rossman also explained how certain trust funds operate (Lacey, Lowell, Walton and Muchler trusts) and that some trusts are restricted for specific uses such as materials acquisition, art conservation, makerspace consumables and unrestricted service enhancements.
The library presentation closed with council acknowledgement of the building’s historic value and the services the library provides. Mayor (attendance recorded) opened a public hearing on the library budget during which no in‑person speakers registered. The council then moved to subsequent departmental presentations.
The city will consider the FY27 operating and capital budgets at later hearings; any formal adoption and specific funding actions will appear on the council agenda at those times.
