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Library budget hearing scheduled for Tuesday night

An informational session and hearing on the 2011-12 Riverhead Free Library budget will be held in the library’s craft room today, Tuesday, at 7 p.m.

The $3.3 million proposed budget carries a $219,000 — or 7.9 percent — spending increase over the 2010-11 budget, nearly all from increases in salaries, benefits and payments to the New York State retirement fund, library officials said. The tax levy is expected to increase from about $2.8 million to over $3 million under current tax equalization rates, according to the library’s website.

That translates to an additional $1.03 a month, or $12 per year for a homeowner whose home is worth about $330,000, said library director Lisa Jacobs

“We have basically pared it down to the bone,” Ms. Jacobs said of the budget. “And our use is still extremely high.”

She noted that retirement costs carried a 44 percent increase over the previous year.

The budget vote will be held on April 5 in the library conference room.

Riverhead Free Library Budget 2011

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