The Howland Public Library is proposing a budget of $989,916 for fiscal year 2015-2016, which is an increase over the previous year's budget of $967,327. This budget relies on a tax levy of $936,968, which is a $21,233 increase over the previous year. Some highlights of the proposed budget include a 2% cost-of-living adjustment for staff salaries, funding for new positions in teen services and exhibits, increases for health insurance and audit fees, and one-time expenses for a new telephone system and architectural consulting. The budget vote and trustee election will take place on April 30, 2015.

1. Proposed Budget FY 2015-16
Howland Public Library
Chartered to serve the Beacon City School District

2. Our Strengths
• Howland Public Library has operated on-budget since 2000.
• HPL fiscal procedures have been validated by annual audits.
• Staff meet changing community needs by supplementing
budgeted funds with grants, bequests, and donations.
• The Library Board works to balance community needs and
community resources using community input.
• In recent years, BCSD voters have recognized the value of
the library and supported library budget increases.

3. Our Challenges
• Times remain tough for many taxpayers. At the same time,
people rely on the library to help them through tough times.
• Growth is limited by the NYS tax cap, which doesn’t factor in
starting budget, mandated costs, or community needs.
• As HPL use goes up, so do requests for new materials in old and
new formats, meeting rooms, programs, equipment, etc.
• People use libraries in different ways than in the past; changes
in collections, programs, and our facility reflect this.
• Personnel increases are offset by salaries of retiring staff.
• The HPL facility remains inadequate for community needs.

4. The Library Budget Is Based on…
• established library needs and continuous
assessment
• reasonable requests by public, staff and trustees
• comparisons of the current half-year and year-end
financial expenditures
• anticipated increases provided by vendors, etc.
• NYS Tax Cap (1.62%) constraints
• many hours of work

5. • The FY 2015-16 budget is, with small
exceptions, the same budget approved by
voters for FY 2011-12.
• This is the first year that several budget lines
had to be cut to meet the NYS Tax Cap growth
limit of 1.62%.

6. Income
Support & Revenue FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
Notes
Library District Tax 902,558 908,800 Levy for 2014-15
Tax Increase (1.62% tax cap) 8,049 14,090 Tax increase
Underestimate from 2014-15 0 7,143 Per OSC calculation (one time use)
PILOT payments 6,933 6,933 TOTAL TAX LEVY = 936,968
Interest Income 1,400 1,250
NYS Aid thru MHLS 6,387 6,700
Other Support: Fines, Fees 22,000 25,000
Support & Revenue Subtotal 947,327 969,916
Other Support: Grants, Donations 20,000 20,000 Does not include $62,000 ADA Project grant
Other Support 20,000 20,000
Total Support & Revenue 967,327 989,916 Total Budget

7. Expenses -- Personnel
Expenses FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
Notes:
Personnel
Salaries & Wages 538,827 543,886 Includes 2% COLA, mandated minimum wage increase,
salary adjustments, and new PT teen services and
exhibits manager positions.
FICA (Payroll Tax) 41,220 41,600
SUI (Unemployment Insurance) 2,500 2,000
NYS Disability Insurance 1,000 1,000
Workers Compensation Insurance 8,200 8,200
Health Insurance 35,000 39,730
NYSERS (Retirement Fees) 74,940 72,800 Reflects December discount
Total Personnel 701,687 709,216

8. Expenses– Materials & Programs
Materials & Programs FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
Books-on-Tape/Videos/AV 20,000 20,000
Books 40,000 40,000
Ebook/Audiobook Downloads 2,000 2,000
Periodicals 6,000 6,000
System (MHLS) Databases 3,000 3,000
In-House Database Access 7,500 8,500 Includes Foundation Center, Freegal, Indieflix,
Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, AtoZdatabases, etc.
Library Programs 15,500 15,500
Total Materials & Programs 94,000 95,000

9. Expenses – Building Operations & Maintenance
Building Operations &
Maintenance
FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
Janitors Expense 3,300 3,500
Fuel : Electric 13,000 13,000
Fuel : Gas 5,250 5,000
Insurance: Property & Boiler 13,500 13,500
Repairs/Maint. General 25,000 25,000
Beacon/Water 900 1,000
Total Building Operations &
Maintenance
60,950 61,000

10. Expenses – General & Administrative
General & Administrative FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
Notes:
Audit 5,500 9,000 New Auditor: Nugent & Haussler
Bookkeeping Expense 9,900 11,000
MHLS Automation & Related 18,500 20,000 $14,500 Automation/Delivery, plus SAM, Teleforms, Web
Hosting, Aerohive, Self-Checkout maintenance, etc.
Computer Expenses 5,500 5,000
Directors & Officers Insurance 600 500
Legal 1,000 1,000
Consultants (Architect) 0 5,000 Previously unbudgeted -- cost $6,000 this year
Furniture/Equipment 5,000 2,500
Telephone System 0 5,500 One-time NECESSARY expense
Office Supplies 5,500 6,500
Office Equipment Lease/Rent 6,240 5,000
Membership Dues 1,000 1,000 ALA, NYLA, Trustee Associations, etc.
Board: Recorder, Other 1,250 1,250
Lease Agreement -- Fax Expense 1,600 3,450
Public/Legal: Referendum 3,500 3,000
Communications 1,000 1,000 Enewsletter, online calendar
Services Charges : Bank 1,400 1,400 Automatic deposit fee
Telephone 2,700 2,700
Telecommunications 1,000 1,000
Printing 750 0
Postage 1,000 800
Network Maintenance 14,400 14,400
Travel Reimbursement 1,100 1,200 Reimbursement for travel to meetings and conferences
Conferences 1,500 1,500
Continuing Education & Training 750 1,000 Workshops, webinars, etc.
Total General & Administrative 90,690 104,700

11. Expenses – Other
Other FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
Grants/Friends/Gifts 20,000 20,000 Funds are often given for purposes beyond general
operations.
Total Other 20,000 20,000

12. Budget Bottom Line
Total Expenses FY 2014 -15
Adopted
FY 2015-16
Proposed
967,327 989,916
Total Support 967,327 989,916
Difference 0 0

13. HPL Budget Vote & Trustee Election
The Budget Vote & Trustee Election will take
place on
April 30, 2015
from noon to 8 PM in the
HPL Community Room.
Budget Vote:
Trustee Election: There are two open five year seats and two
open one-year seats on the Library Board of Trustees.
Please don’t forget to vote! Bring a friend!
TAX LEVY = $936,968 ($21,233 increase)