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Tonganoxie Public Library board presents 2027 budget proposal, cites strong usage growth
Summary
Library board vice president Emily Arnold presented a 2027 proposed budget totaling about $559,000 for operations and roughly $116,500 for benefits, citing a 17% year‑over‑year increase in patrons and a 40% rise over three years that drives staffing and program needs.
Emily Arnold, vice president of the Tonganoxie Public Library Board, presented the board's proposed 2027 budget and explained that recent increases in patronage and programming motivated the funding request. Arnold said the library recorded a 17% increase in patrons over the prior year and a 40% increase over three years and projected the library would serve roughly 10,000 patrons per month under current trends. The board's operating request is approximately $559,000, with a benefits fund request near $116,500.
Council members asked for more detail on reserve levels and revenue lines. One council member questioned the benefits fund balance (noting a 77% fund balance cited in discussion) and suggested the board consider using some reserves to avoid a mill levy increase for benefits; Arnold responded that recent state legislation could cap rate increases and that the board aimed to mitigate long‑term fiscal risk by preserving reserves. Staff and council discussed the potential of a library district to broaden the tax base in future years; staff noted that creating a district would require state‑level legislative action and voter approval.
