Natrona County Library board adopts $200,680 in unanticipated FY26 revenue to cover salaries, programs and facility needs

The Natrona County Library Board on June 10 adopted $200,680.43 in unanticipated revenue for fiscal year 2026 and approved a set of targeted allocations to support staffing, programming and facility needs.

Vice President Cathi Carr opened a public hearing at 12:05 p.m. and the board moved to accept the additional revenue and allocate the funds as presented. The package consolidates several revenue sources — including $49,999 from NCSD#1/Joint Powers, $39,269 in Wyoming State Library grant funds, $8,860 from NEA Big Read, $10,000 from Carnegie Libraries 250, $10,000 from Pizza Hut Slice of Literacy, $5,000 from DDA, and $77,552.43 in county revenue — into expense lines for salaries and benefits, youth and adult programs, facility compliance and community outreach.

The motion to accept the unanticipated income and the distribution carried. The board record lists major expense allocations including $32,945 to Main salaries and wages, smaller wage increases and benefit matches for branches and the bookmobile, $33,000 slated for facility compliance work from the Wyoming State Library grant, and $10,000 each for outreach and equipment in several places. The full list of line-item allocations was presented during the hearing and approved by the board.

Also during the meeting the board approved the agenda, approved and filed minutes from the May 13, 2026 meeting after a correction to prior minutes, and authorized payment of May 2026 bills; each routine motion carried. The director noted a correction to last month's minutes clarifying that Conrrado Saldivar's Library Journal "Mover & Shaker" recognition is global in scope rather than limited to nationwide.

In staff reports, lead cataloger Linnan McDonald said she participated in the Leadership Casper program (Aug. through April) and was elected Member-at-Large to the WYLD Governing Board. Commissioner Casey Coates told trustees that countywide budget discussions show $54 million in requests against $53 million in expected revenue and that county health insurance costs have increased about 24 percent; he said a previously proposed 1.5 percent salary increase for library staff remains under consideration.

Executive Director Lisa Scroggins reported Summer Reading is underway with increased attendance, and staff addressed two recent building leaks in the second-floor roof and the Children's Department. She said the library has received new technology and facility support from the Natrona County Library Foundation and an anonymous local donor, and that several community partners have contacted the library to coordinate services for vulnerable residents.

The meeting closed after a Friends of the Library update (a June 24 staff bag sale and the group's next meeting in September) and adjourned at 1:06 p.m.