Library system proposes $38.9M budget amid hiring freeze and collections needs

Caleb Callender, the county’s budget and policy analyst, told the committee the library’s proposed total revenue for FY27 is $38,860,700, with the county proposed to provide $28,904,200 — a roughly $580,900 increase from FY26.

"the proposed total rev total revenue for the library is 38,860,700," Callender said as he reviewed revenue and expenditure projections and noted operating increases tied to early‑literacy investments and negotiated compensation changes.

Callender said FY27 operating increases include higher overtime (partly driven by a hiring freeze), an approximately $919,000 increase in operating costs and a collections budget increase (roughly $407,000) to begin restoring purchases reduced in recent years. He outlined the FY27 CIP at $6,565,000, with $1,310,000 proposed for site studies tied to a Hillcrest Heights branch replacement.

Library CEO Mark Winston clarified that referenced negotiated increases were not yet finalized. Library staff said the public‑services increase of roughly $750,000 is largely for books and periodicals, including about $65,000 for a "books from birth" expansion and a larger collections restoration. Staff also told the committee the system continues to operate under a hiring freeze and has 24 funded vacancies and 5 unfunded vacancies.

Callender flagged federally funded efforts — a three‑year U.S. Department of Labor grant for a mobile library and Library Services & Technology Act (LSTA) funding for staff development — and noted litigation and federal program changes could affect future revenues.

Council members asked about capital closeout delays, weekend hours and expanding pilot programs such as speech‑delay services at the Spalding branch; library officials said pilot partnerships and vendor models would be preferred options given staffing constraints.

Library staff committed to follow up on project closeouts and staffing details asked by the committee.