Merrick libraries’ budgets pass by wide margins

Merrick

Merrick residents passed the Merrick Library’s budget for 2014-15 in a 149-41 vote on April 9. The budget, which expands Library spending by about $59,000, a 1.73 percent increase, includes more funding for materials and services. It marginally decreases funding for building maintenance.

The 2014-15 Library budget’s spending increase was slightly less than the property-tax levy cap the state set for the Library.

In a message on its website, the Library thanked the community for authorizing the budget.

The budget reflected the Library’s commitment to electronic periodicals. “Serials and databases” received a $7,000 funding increase. There was a $3,000 funding increase for books and a $3,500 total funding decrease for videos, DVDs, CDs and books on tape.

Art Sacharoff, a member of the Library’s Board of Trustees, was also reelected in the April 9 vote. He ran unopposed.

North Merrick

North Merrick residents passed the North Merrick Public Library’s budget for 2014-15 in a 100-40 vote on April 10. The budget, which expands Library spending by about $169,000, a 7.68 percent increase, includes more funding for the Library’s operating expenses and employee costs. It also marginally increases funding for services. It decreases funding for materials.

The 2014-15 Library budget exceeded the 1 percent property-tax levy increase cap that the state set for the Library. Nevertheless, the budget will go into effect because a majority of the voters approved it.

In a message on its website, the Library thanked the community for authorizing the budget.

The budget dropped almost $30,000 in funding for Library materials and electronic resources. The largest single increase in the budget was for employee costs. The Library will spend $82,000 more on personnel due to one new hire and contractual increases. The next largest increase in the budget was a $50,000 addition for a capital improvement project.

Mark Davis, a member of the Library’s Board of Trustees, was also reelected in the April 10 vote. He ran unopposed.