Votors Approve $2.28 Million Hampton Bays Library Budget On Tuesday

Taxpayers on Tuesday approved the Hampton Bays Public Library’s $2.28 million budget for 2018, by a vote of 229-99.

The $2,288,654 budget increases overall spending by more than $56,000, or 2.5 percent. It goes into effect on January 1, 2018.

Despite the increase in spending, the budget stays under the state-mandated tax levy cap. Under the approved budget, the library tax rate is expected to increase about 5 percent under the spending plan, from just over 59 cents to slightly more than 62 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. As a result, a taxpayer whose home is assessed at $400,000 will pay about $252 in library taxes next year, or almost $15 more than the current year, according to library officials.

The total taxes collected by the library will increase by about 3.3 percent, from nearly $1.95 million to just over $2 million. Although that number exceeds 2 percent, Library Director Susan LaVista said the budget does not pierce the cap because of state-approved exemptions.

Though the budget also saw some major cuts—including the elimination of the entire security guard line, a $33,000 savings—Ms. LaVista said the budget keeps most of the library’s programming and other offerings.

“This operating budget will allow the library to continue its long-standing traditions of providing excellent customer service, innovative programs and new materials for all patrons, and allocates for continued upkeep and needed repairs to the building as well as additional maintenance,” Ms. LaVista said in a prepared statement. “The Board of Trustees, director and staff would like to thank everyone for coming to vote and for supporting your community library. We look forward to serving our patrons in the coming year.”

Two of the larger increases in the proposed budget fall under the repair and salary lines.

Ms. LaVista explained in a recent interview that $8,000 was added to the repairs line, bumping that amount to $31,000. She explained that additional funds had to be earmarked after the public shot down a pair of multimillion-dollar bond referendums over the past year that sought to renovate the Ponquogue Avenue facility. She noted that the additional money still would not address the most pressing needs, including a new roof, but would allow officials to make some patches until they come up with a new long-term plan.

The salary line, meanwhile, is increasing by 6.4 percent, or $725,000, to about $1.2 million, and Ms. LaVista said that bump is mostly due to recent legislation that increases the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.