Riverhead library budget vote Tuesday: 3 percent increase proposed
Riverhead Free Library’s proposed 2015-16 budget calls for a three percent tax increase of $100,634, bringing its total to $3.45 million.
“Once again, the Board of Trustees worked rigorously to pare the coming year’s budget without cutting hours or services to our ever-increasing patrons,” library director Joy Rankin wrote in a mailing to residents.
Under the proposed budget, spending will increase 2.2 percent to $3.58 million. At 2.67 million, personnel costs — which are up by $14,775 — make up the bulk of that amount.
Library revenue is projected to decrease from $151,500 to $130,913 in the proposed budget. Revenue from fines and fees is proposed to drop from $30,000 to $18,000 and revenue from contracts with neighboring districts that use Riverhead Free Library is proposed to drop from $105,000 to $95,913.
A public vote on the library’s budget is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The vote will take place in the library’s meeting room.
