Library Grows, But Next Budget Won't
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Warsaw Community Public Library will work under a budget next year almost identical to this year's despite seeing its building triple in size.
The library's proposed 1998 budget is $1,436,054 - a 5 percent rise over the current year.
The budget will remain similar by several moves approved by the library board on Monday. Those moves include:
• Significantly reducing the amount of money collected for the library improvement reserve fund. In recent years, the fund collected upward of $100,000. With the expansion project completion in sight, the board expected to need only about $10,000 in additional money.
• The board was able to save about $82,000 from the current budget, which will be applied to next year's operation.
• The library kept several positions vacant in the past year and saved additional salary money when new employees replaced long-time employees with higher salary levels.
There are some new expenses, though. Utilities are expected to rise from about $41,000 to $90,000.
The number of employees will grow about 10 percent. The library normally has 40 employee positions, and will add four new positions. Those include a part-time reference assistant, a part-time clerk, and a part-time custodian. A part-time custodial position that remained vacant this year will be upgraded to a full-time position in 1998.
A final tax rate will be set by the state late this year, and officials expect it to be no more and possibly less than the current rate because of the expected in-crease in tax assessment within the taxing unit.
Board president Don Sweat-land pointed out that the community will "end up with a new building next year and it won't cost taxpayers any more than this year."
Library officials also made plans for a VIP open house intended for those who made private contributions to the expansion and other community notables. Sweatland proposed the VIP open house occur after the expansion is complete and books and other materials are moved into the area while the old adjoining facility is renovated.
However, some officials voiced concern about the stress of pre-paring an open house while getting ready to serve the public. As a result, a compromise suggested by board member David Feinstein to host the open house before the transition. The tentative date was set for Nov. 2
Construction of the two-story addition should be complete by the end of October. The library will then be closed for two weeks to allow for the transition.
Officials believe the entire project will be completed in April after renovations to the old facility are complete.
Another open house celebrating the entire project will likely occur in April or May.
In another matter, the board discussed hiring a collection agency for overdue book fines. The library retained an agency years ago, but dropped it and began banning additional check-outs instead.
The board is looking at Unique management Services, a Jeffer-sonville firm that specializes in library collections. A new software package adopted by the library would aid in the service, said library director Ann Zydek. [[In-content Ad]]
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Warsaw Community Public Library will work under a budget next year almost identical to this year's despite seeing its building triple in size.
The library's proposed 1998 budget is $1,436,054 - a 5 percent rise over the current year.
The budget will remain similar by several moves approved by the library board on Monday. Those moves include:
• Significantly reducing the amount of money collected for the library improvement reserve fund. In recent years, the fund collected upward of $100,000. With the expansion project completion in sight, the board expected to need only about $10,000 in additional money.
• The board was able to save about $82,000 from the current budget, which will be applied to next year's operation.
• The library kept several positions vacant in the past year and saved additional salary money when new employees replaced long-time employees with higher salary levels.
There are some new expenses, though. Utilities are expected to rise from about $41,000 to $90,000.
The number of employees will grow about 10 percent. The library normally has 40 employee positions, and will add four new positions. Those include a part-time reference assistant, a part-time clerk, and a part-time custodian. A part-time custodial position that remained vacant this year will be upgraded to a full-time position in 1998.
A final tax rate will be set by the state late this year, and officials expect it to be no more and possibly less than the current rate because of the expected in-crease in tax assessment within the taxing unit.
Board president Don Sweat-land pointed out that the community will "end up with a new building next year and it won't cost taxpayers any more than this year."
Library officials also made plans for a VIP open house intended for those who made private contributions to the expansion and other community notables. Sweatland proposed the VIP open house occur after the expansion is complete and books and other materials are moved into the area while the old adjoining facility is renovated.
However, some officials voiced concern about the stress of pre-paring an open house while getting ready to serve the public. As a result, a compromise suggested by board member David Feinstein to host the open house before the transition. The tentative date was set for Nov. 2
Construction of the two-story addition should be complete by the end of October. The library will then be closed for two weeks to allow for the transition.
Officials believe the entire project will be completed in April after renovations to the old facility are complete.
Another open house celebrating the entire project will likely occur in April or May.
In another matter, the board discussed hiring a collection agency for overdue book fines. The library retained an agency years ago, but dropped it and began banning additional check-outs instead.
The board is looking at Unique management Services, a Jeffer-sonville firm that specializes in library collections. A new software package adopted by the library would aid in the service, said library director Ann Zydek. [[In-content Ad]]