Emma S. Clark Memorial Library to Hold Budget Hearing Wednesday

To address concerns residents may have over its proposed 2011 budget, the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library will hold its annual budget hearing tomorrow, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the library's community room.

The proposed 2011 budget is $4.5 million, which includes a 1.64 percent increase over last year's budget of $4.37 million. The budget vote is scheduled for Sept. 15 between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the library.

According to the budget breakdown, the largest areas of increase in costs are taxes and mandated benefits. Social security and retirement costs have increased by $111,000, while health insurance costs have increased $20,000 from last year.

Last year's budget did not include the MTA tax, which director Ed Elenausky said the library wound up paying from surplus funds from other areas. That tax, which amounts to $9,000 for 2011, has been budgeted into this year's number.

The proposed budget also represents a small decrease in money designated for books, periodicals, and electronic resources as well as a decrease in maintenance costs.

"The board wanted a very lean budget because of the way the economy is," Elenausky said. "We looked for places where we could shave a few dollars...to keep the increase under control."

Elenausky said attendance at the annual hearing is typically low, but encouraged concerned residents to attend.

"I think it's because people are happy," he said. "The budget has always passed resoundingly. It hasn't even been close."

The 2010 budget passed by a vote of 334 to 74.