Voters will be asked to approve a $3.34 million operating budget for Riverhead Free Library for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
The proposed spending plan requires a 1.99 percent tax levy increase, keeping it within the tax "cap" imposed by state lawmakers last year, library director Lisa Jacobs said.
Total spending will increase by $38,040, or 1.1 percent over last year's adopted budget.
Increased personnel costs of just over $61,000 are offset by decreases in other expenditures, including the purchase of library materials, according to a budget summary published by the library.
The complete budget will be available on the library's website on Monday, Feb. 20.
There will be a budget information meeting on Tuesday, March 13 from 7 to 7:30 p.m. in the library meeting room.
The budget vote is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., also in the library meeting room. To be eligible to vote, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the Riverhead Central School District for at least 30 days. (You must re-register if you have not voted in a general, school or library election in the past four years. Contact the school district office at 631-369-6708 for more information.)
The library's fiscal year, like the school year, runs from July 1 through June 30. When voters go to the polls on the library budget proposal, they are technically voting on a contract between the Riverhead Central School District and the Riverhead library management association. The library is not a separate taxing district. The library vote has traditionally been held separately from the school district budget vote, as allowed by state law.
| EXPENSES | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Library materials | 415,750 | 402,950 | 379,700 |
| Personnel | 2,218,526 | 2,457,851 | 2,518,885 |
| Buildings & Grounds | 212,500 | 214,500 | 216,000 |
| Office Equipment & Supplies | 78,500 | 78,000 | 74,000 |
| Other Operating Expenses | 161,300 | 152,306 | 155,062 |
| TOTAL | 3,086,576 | 3,305,607 | 3,343,647 |
| REVENUES | 2010-2011 | 2011-2012 | 2012-2013 |
| Fines & Fees | 42,000 | 42,000 | 42,000 |
| Interest/Operating | 3,000 | 1,500 | 500 |
| Contract Districts | 170,000 | 170,000 | 150,000 |
| State Aid | 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,000 |
| Programs & Bus Trips | 29,000 | 24,000 | 13,500 |
| Fund Transfer for Programs | ---- | ---- | 8,700 |
| TOTAL | 251,000 | 244,500 | 221,700 |