LML Presents Its 2011-12 Budget

The will host a public information meeting April 5 at 7 p.m. ahead of its upcoming April 12 vote on a budget that includes an 3.6 percent increase.

After two years with a zero percent increase in its operating budgets, this year, Library Director Peter Ward noted that there is an increase, and attributed it to “the rising cost of employee retirement and healthcare rooted in a bad economy.”

Ward continued: “The cost of state retirement make it necessary to raise the budget by 3.6 percent to maintain operating costs. That breaks down to $6.00 on an average home in Lindenhurst assessed at $3,200.”

At the meeting the LML will present its proposed budget for the fiscal year July 2011-June 2012, ahead of the April 12 vote, which will run from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. It’ll include trustee elections.

This year’s budget took into account fixed costs like personnel contracts and utilities, and looked at the discretionary line, explained Ward.

“Then we proposed a budget to the board of trustees, which later adopted it after deliberation at the February 25 board meeting,” he said.

Ward assures the community that the adopted budget is to maintain the current level of service.

“It keeps the quality of service we’ve been working really hard to develop and maintain over the years,” he said. “The budget gives us the flexibility to do this, based on the needs of the community.”

For instance, Ward pointed to the movie program.

“We no longer have a movie theater in town, so we were able to purchase an HD projector and a high-quality big screen, and start the Thursday movie at the library,” the director said. “Seniors come during the afternoon to see some of the latest movies, and some classics, too. And when the kids are on vacation, families can get lunch in the village and come to enjoy a movie, too.”

The library also offers live performances each Sunday it’s open, from September to May, in the meeting room inside. There are also performances outside as weather permits that take place in the eco-friendly parking lot developed in recent years from the old vacant lot across the street on Lee Avenue.

Other endeavors include the , which digitally captures the stories of local Lindenhurst war veterans’ battle stories for posterity.

Those can be found on the LML website, which also provides photos on Flickr, a YouTube channel, a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

“Over the past few years, we’ve spent a lot of time developing a virtual presence,” Ward said. There’s online access to the catalog and database, tax forms, program registration and book reservation, he added.

The LML’s ability to provide programs and services like these, as well as others, could not only be affected by a budget that doesn’t pass, but also cuts in state aid.

“We’re a member of the Suffolk Cooperative Library System. It has a library database, offers interlibrary loans and provides continuing education for staff,” said Ward. “We get funding via the system, and the system is funded via the state. So if a chunk is taken away, it could impact the taxpayer.”

And services – ones, according to Ward, that are vital during these economic times.

“We have a lot of people using the library for a lot of different reasons,” he said.

For instance, the library’s hi-speed Internet access allows those who may not be able to afford a connection or computer to look for a job.

Like many school districts, the library also has to worry about Governor Cuomo’s proposed tax cap.

“The tax caps would apply to us, as well,” noted Ward. “They would apply depending on when it was passed and the final form. It would depend on if the state legislature applies it now or later.”

Last week the state legislature passed a , but did not include the tax cap. But that doesn’t mean it’s a dead issue.

told Lindenhurst Patch recently that the tax cap is still being batted around in Albany.

“It’s not part of the budget. That wasn’t possible with the timing to get the budget done. So it’s probably a ,” he said. “I assume the discussions will start again [this] week.”

In the meantime, the LML will push forward with its budget, and wait to see what the legislature has in store. And, as indicated at the last meeting March 24, the board is also dealing with some HVAC and insulation issues. Plus, it’s in talks with the CSEA.

“We went into executive session to discuss collective bargaining and options regarding repair or replacement of the HVAC system on the roof,” noted Ward.