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Library leaders warn of rising maintenance costs, urge planning for HVAC replacement
Summary
Library Director Deann Hunter told the Laconia City Council on May 26 that aging HVAC and equipment needs are increasing costs; Hunter said $6,200 of work is already queued for July 1 and that maintenance and utility line items have grown in FY27 proposals, prompting questions from councilors about funding sources and replacement planning.
John Moriarty, chair of the Library Board of Trustees, introduced Library Director Deann Hunter at the May 26 budget meeting and described the board’s process for preparing a lean operating budget.
Director Hunter told the council that library programs remain popular — with four active book clubs, a weekly line-dancing program, robust children’s programming and an increase in after-school gamers — while building maintenance needs are rising. Hunter said the library addition completed in 2005 has aging systems and that the maintenance/HVAC budget request increased noticeably. "We already have $6,200 worth of work waiting to go on July 1," Hunter said, and she described a 13.5% increase in equipment maintenance and a 17% increase in lights and power driven largely by higher electricity rates.
The library also requested modest increases for print and nonprint materials (about 2.86% and 2.56%, respectively), Hunter said. Chair Moriarty said the board had asked the director to reassess costs and prepare the budget from a fresh starting point when she began in September.
Councilors pressed staff for future planning: Councilor Soucy asked whether impact fees could be used for a future HVAC replacement; Moriarty said impact fees are one possible funding source. Councilor Conant asked about heating-fuel assumptions, noting the FY27 fuel line is flat at $24,000 while FY25 fuel expenditures were $20,221 and FY25 electricity expenditures approached $50,000. Councilor Hoffman offered to meet with library leadership to discuss the HVAC situation.
No formal budget vote occurred at the meeting. The council continued to other business and adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
