Library budget approval leads vote count

In-person voting has given a 306-121lead toward passing a 2021Woodstock Library budget amounting to $672,200.

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. » In-person voting has given a 306-121 lead toward passing a 2021 Woodstock Library budget amounting to $672,200 for a 4.24 percent increase of $27,354.

Officials note there are still a possible 271 absentee ballots that were issued and yet to return. Those votes would need to have been postmarked by Sept. 30 and must be received by Oct. 8 to be counted.

There are also incomplete counts for uncontested races for board seats carrying five-year terms. Current tallies show 263 votes for Linda Lover and 257 votes for Jeffrey Collins., with 14 write-in votes split among eight people.

Under the spending plan, there would be a $585,545 property tax levy with an increase of $1.

Officials expect to start 2021 with a fund balance at $29,355 for a 1,367.47 percent increase of $27,355 due to money accumulated while the library was inactive as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Changes in the proposed budget include:

• Salaries at $303,586.62, for a 2 increase of $5,952.66.

• Employees benefits $126,834.38, for a 4.43 percent increase of $5,376.38.

• Print items at $41,148, for a 9.06 percent increase of $3,420.

• Building expenses at $73,000, for a 3.99 percent increase of $2,800.

• Other expenses at $50,340, for a 5.45 percent increase of $2,600.

• Equipment costs at $10,000, for a 24.81 percent decrease of $3,300.

• Telecommunications $6,900, for a 17.86 percent decrease of $1,500.

• Contracts with other libraries at $12,000, for a 9.09 percent increase of $1,000.

• Professional fees at $28,00, for an 11.11 percent decrease of $3,500.