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Hearing on East Hampton Library’s Budget

By
Christine Sampson

Ahead of its Sept. 19 budget vote, the East Hampton Library will hold a hearing tomorrow at 3 p.m. to present its $2.3 million spending plan to the community.

If it is approved, the budget would increase by about $86,000, or 3.9 percent. The average taxpayer would spend $4.89 more on library taxes this year.

Among the items in the library’s proposed budget is an increase of $33,622, or 2.1 percent, to allow the library to hire three more part-time staff members. The total staffing costs would then amount to just under $1.6 million. Dennis Fabiszak, the library director, said the new employees will help the library offer more programs.

“We’re realizing different ways we can use the new space” in the Baldwin Family Lecture Room, a 60-seat facility that was completed about a year ago, he said.

The library will increase spending on books, music, periodicals, and other materials by about 4.5 percent, up to $145,000. Administrative costs such as auditing, telephone service, and postage would rise by about 5 percent, up to $139,800.

Facilities expenses, such as utilities, repairs, and equipment, are expected to drop by about 4.8 percent, down to $188,500. Mr. Fabiszak said the library anticipates spending less on heating and electricity, thanks to upgraded lighting fixtures and a new high-efficiency gas heating system that will replace four old oil furnaces.

“Our building is now energy efficient,” he said. “We think that will add up.”

The library relies on significant private support from donations, fund-raisers, grants, and Library Society memberships. Mr. Fabiszak said the library anticipates receiving $475,000 this year in private support, largely thanks to a successful Authors Night earlier this year. All of the library’s capital improvements, including the installation of the new heaters, are funded this way, which makes up between 30 and 35 percent of the total budget. In its budget statement, the library says that “generous members of the community and the library board have donated close to $19 million to the library” since 1995.

“Fund-raising helps us keep our expenses low and run a building of this size. It’s an old building, and it’s not small,” Mr. Fabiszak said. “A lot of public institutions would have to fund with taxes what we are able to pay for with private donations.”

Mr. Fabiszak said he is hoping for a larger turnout. The last few years’ budget votes have seen 300 or fewer voters.

The budget vote will be held on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library. Residents who are registered voters in the East Hampton, Springs, and Wainscott School Districts are eligible to cast ballots for the library budget. Absentee ballots must be requested from and returned to those schools’ district clerks.

 

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