2021 library budget smaller than 2020 spending plan

The West Hurley Library’s $228,400 budget for 2021 will go before voters on Sept. 15.

Voting will be from 4 to 8 p.m. at the library, 42 Clover St.

The budget is 0.6 percent smaller than the library’s 2020 spending plan, and the proposed property tax levy is unchanged at just under $220,000.

Library Director Kara Lustiber said the amount that will be in the library’s fund balance at the start of 2021 is uncertain because the cost of buying and installing COVID-related personal protective equipment still must be calculated.

“We generally budget about $380 for custodial supplies,” Lustiber said. “We’ve spent close to $1,900 this year already, and we’re

still buying all kinds of things just to keep the doors open and keep things sanitized and safe. Hopefully, we’ll get some of that back in grants, but we don’t know yet.”

At the same time, though, the cost of library operations “is down because we had a tremendous savings with our internet provider,” Lustiber said. “I got us onto a different grant program ... which enabled us to knock down [expenses] in other places.”

The operations budget line in 2021 is to be $28,640, down 5.6% from the 2020 level.

The library’s 2021 budget also includes:

• $109,870 for salaries and $31,575 for employee benefits, both unchanged from 2020.

• $24,105 for building expenses, up 1.3%.

• $14,500 for book acquisitions and $4,000 for audio/ video acquisitions, both unchanged.

Three three-year seats on the library’s Board of Trustees also will be on the Sept. 15 ballot. Running unopposed are incumbent Howard Keene, incumbent Robert Hoffman and Ross Lonstein.