SPA CITY Vote on library budget April 12

Proposal does not change tax levy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Residents of the Saratoga Springs City School District will soon elect a library trustee as well as vote on the 2018-19 Saratoga Springs Public Library budget.

The election will be held in the Library’s H. Dutcher Community Room from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday, April 12. Residents who are registered voters are eligible to vote.

A public hearing concerning the budget and an opportunity to meet the trustee candidates will be held Monday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in the H. Dutcher Community Room.

Library Trustees ask voters to approve a tax levy of $5,103,600, which is the same amount approved from 2017-18.

The total operating budget is $5,515,100, of which $511,500 comes from fine income, grants and donations.

The rest is required from the tax levy. Since there’s no change in the proposed tax levy, there is no change in tax impact anticipated.

“The Board of Trustees and staff are grateful for the public’s past support of our Library’s popular services and programs, “said Janet Lindner, President of the Library’s Board of Trustees. “The proposed budget will allow us to continue those services, to update and repair Library systems to meet ever-growing demand and to maintain our Library as a valuable resource for community members of all ages.”

Library Director, Issac Pulver, said the demand for library services continues to be very high.

“Over 811,000 items were checked out in 2017, and library meeting room use increased by 16 percent over 2016. An average of more than 1,200 people a day visited the library during the year, and library staff made nearly 3,000 visits to homebound residents,” said Pulver. “Over 100,000 sessions were logged on library computer resources, and our librarians answered nearly 55,000 reference questions and arranged more than 2,000 programs ranging

from storytimes to computer classes, that attracted more than 30,000 attendees. The budget proposal we are putting forward maintains the resources to meet this very high demand.”

The library serves the residents of the Saratoga Springs Enlarged City School District. Funds for the library are collected when school taxes are collected, and appear as a separate item on tax bills. A fivemember Board of Trustees elected by district residents governs the library. There will be one Trustee vacancy, as Dede Hill’s term will expire on June 30; Katie Capelli is running unopposed for election to that seat.

The complete proposed budget can be found by visiting the library’s website, www.sspl.org.