Rolling Meadows Library seeks 2.7% levy increase to fund strategic-plan priorities

Jack Bauer, executive director of the Rolling Meadows Library, presented the library’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and a request for a 2.7% levy increase to a total levy of $4,632,400. Bauer said the $5,036,000 budget is “the next chapter for the library,” shaped by the library’s 2025–2027 strategic plan and input from residents, staff, trustees and community partners.

Bauer detailed cost drivers and offsets in the plan. He said the library expects a roughly 12% decline in Personal Property Replacement Tax revenue but anticipates higher investment earnings and a $250,000 grant to offset the $65,000 one-time Cooperative Computer Services (CCS) start-up cost. “By joining, Rolling Meadows Library patrons will have access to more than 3,000,000 items from neighboring libraries,” Bauer said, and he estimated net first-year savings from consortium membership of nearly $47,000 and ongoing annual savings of about $57,000.

Personnel remains the largest budget item: payroll is projected to rise about 3.5% overall with a 3.2% salary adjustment to help retention, Bauer said, while health insurance is projected to increase about 21.6%. Capital requests include $197,500 to resurface the west parking lot (coordinated with the city’s summer repaving program) and $20,000 for a facility needs assessment and master plan. Bauer concluded by asking the council for approval of the FY2026 Library Budget and Levy and offered to answer questions.