Reinbeck council approves library construction start, agrees to raise library budget to $165,000

The Reinbeck City Council on Feb. 2 approved a construction start date of Feb. 9 for work at the Reinbeck Public Library and agreed to increase the library's FY2027 budget request to $165,000.

Lenah, speaking for the library, said the Clark Street door will be closed during construction and patrons will need to use the Blackhawk Street entrance, which is not handicap accessible; the library will offer curbside pickup and local deliveries while work is underway. The council approved the construction plan and related operational adjustments without recorded opposition.

In budget discussions, library representatives told the council they could not make the $140,000 figure approved in January work for next year and requested $165,000 while reducing proposed salary increases to 2.8% to align with the city's approved level. Councilmember Pease moved to approve the $165,000 allocation, seconded by Johnson; the motion passed on a roll-call vote of Wambold, Pease, Johnson, Trepp and Bueghly voting aye.

City staff reported that with the approved board requests and the $165,000 library figure, the FY2027 General Fund budgeted expenses total $947,230 and projected revenues are $882,699, leaving an approximate $65,000 shortfall that the council said would be drawn from the General Fund reserve. Councilmembers discussed revenue strategies and said a Capital Improvement Plan currently being developed would examine longer-term funding options.

The council did not adopt any new revenue measures at the meeting. The city administrator and library board will proceed with the construction schedule and the library's revised budget plans for FY2027.