Library seeks approval of $619,168 budget

Woodstock Library District resident on Sept. 7 will vote on a proposed $619,168 budget for 2018, carrying a 3.26 percent increase of $19,552.

Voting is scheduled for noon to 9 p.m. in the library at 5 Library Lane.

Under the budget there would be a $577,118 property tax levy representing a 2.04 percent increase of $11,552.

Library Director Jessica Kerr said among changes in the budget will be adding in contributions from Friends of the Woodstock Library, with donations and contributions proposed at $19,000 for a 58.33 percent increase of $7,000.

“What we’ve done ... is change the way we financially work with the Friends of the Library, so the spending shows how much value Woodstock is getting from the efforts of our volunteers,” she said. “It used to be that they would just pay for things, so it would never appear in our budget. So what we’re doing is we’re paying for things like children’s programming ... and we’re getting reimbursed for them, rather than them just paying for things and it’s not being seen.”

Kerr said there has been an emphasis put on finding local programs and having a children reading program that is rooted in the community.

“Our priorities ... (are) on making more useful

and accessible programming,” she said. “For the summer reading program this year our new (coordinator) Dawn Meola really wanted to make sure we were involving local people, ... which is really reaching

out to the teens and youth.”

Other changes in the proposed budget include:

• Building expenses at $68,750, for a 0.36 percent increase of $250.

• Salaries at $252,918, for a 0.12 percent decrease of $299.

• Employee benefits at $150,200, for a 3.73 percent increase of $5,400.

• Revenue from library charges at $4,500, for a 28.57 percent increase of $1,000.

• Books at $22,500, for a 4.65 percent increase of $1,000.

• Children’s books at $9,000, for a 12.5 percent increase of $1,000.

• Programs at $5,500 for a 161.9 percent increase of $3,400.

Library board positions on the ballot will include the seats currently held by Barry Samuels, Barry Miller, and Caroline Jerome with the two candidates receiving the most votes taking five-year seats and the third place candidate taking the final four years of a vacant position. There is an Aug. 8 deadline for candidate to submit petitions for a ballot slot.