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Library trustees’ budget highlights: $13,000 grant for electronic sign, staff promotion and rising telecom costs
Summary
Library trustees reported a $13,000 grant toward an electronic sign, recommended promoting a staff member with a 6% raise, and flagged overspending driven largely by recent telephone and Internet increases; the committee asked for an amended budget showing offsetting revenue and phone-line adjustments.
Library trustees presented their proposed budget changes and fielded committee questions about staffing, materials and operating costs.
The librarian said the Association for Rural and Small Libraries awarded a grant (the request was for $15,000) and the town received $13,000 toward an electronic sign. She asked that the grant revenue be shown as offsetting revenue in the budget and requested staff prepare an amended budget showing that offset and removing one phone line.
Trustees recommended promoting a staff member (Tisha) with a 6% raise tied to a title change; other staff were recommended to receive a 3% increase and part-time employees were granted three paid holidays, which affected part-time wage totals.
The library reported rising costs for books and toner; a hardcover list price near $30 and toner cartridges that "went from, like, 240 to 170 something" (vendor-dependent) were cited as drivers. The librarian said printing and minor user fees (25¢ per page) offset some costs but that the budget showed the library was overspent year-to-date largely because of telephone/Internet charges.
The committee asked for an amended budget that reflects the grant offsetting revenue and the proposed phone-line and funded pay adjustments ahead of the final budget vote.
