Date: Fri 13-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Booth-Library-budget

Full Text:

Increase In Proposed Library Budget Lower Than Anticipated

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

The Board of Trustees of the Booth Library approved a $598,017 proposed budget

for 1997-98 at their monthly meeting Tuesday night. The members, pleased to

have reduced the anticipated increase by almost one third, will now present

the budget to the Board of Selectmen.

Most of the $96,627 increase in the budget is a direct result of the library

expansion, which will almost triple the amount of space in the facility.

Heating costs will rise from $3,000 in last year's budget to $5,000, but not

triple because the heating system recently was converted from oil to gas, a

much less expensive energy source. The cost of electricity, however, is

expected to increase from $16,070 to $20,000.

"I checked with CL&P, and other utilities and this was their guestimate for

the amount of square feet we will have in the library," said Library Director

Janet Woycik at the meeting.

Other increases in the budget include about $4,000 more for contractual

services, supplies $1,751, telephone just under $1,000, training $500, and

water almost $300. Bibliomation fees are expected to increase from $29,465 to

$35,000 next year.

The figure for salaries is up $64,853, benefits $7,375, and FICA $5,390. This

is in part due to the need to hire 1.5 more staff members, but salaries for

current staff members will be increased an average of four percent to bring

them up to the standard for this area, and "to keep the good people we have

staffing the library," commented one board member.

Many of the line items in the budget are the same as for the year 1996-97

including AV/software, committees, books, databases, equipment, fund raising,

maintenance, membership/dues, peiodicals, postage/petty cash, programs,

special funds, and working contingency.

"We had said [to the Board of Selectmen] we would have a 28 percent increase,

but came up with just under 20 percent," said Board President Gordon Williams.

"We really worked hard to hold the line."

"We feel the people of Newtown will be pleased that the budget has come in

much lower than anticipated," said Mrs Woycik.

Most other board members agreed that it was best to present a budget as lean

as possible because "there are a lot of demands on the town this year." Last

year the town contributed $305,475 of the library's $501,390 budget; this year

the board is asking for $372,357 of the $598,017 proposed budget.

The library board will also ask the selectmen to increase the upgrade the

health care coverage of library staff so it is comparable to what most of the

town's employees receive (a $2,700 increase in benefits), and include library

personnel in the pension plan (a $5,000 increase). Currently, the library

maintenance worker is the only employee included in the town's pension

coverage. These proposed increases are not part of the library budget, but

would be added to the town budget.

Among other business discussed at the meeting, Kathy Geckle of the Long Range

Planning Committee told the board that the low bid for new furniture had come

in at $242,000, the exact amount they had hoped to spend.