Library Budget Will Rise a Bit

A modest budget increase facing the East Hampton Library in 2018 has prompted its board of managers to seek voter approval for a $104,000 tax hike. A meeting to explain the additional costs will be held at the library on Sept. 16 at 9 a.m. Voting for registered residents of the East Hampton, Wainscott, and Springs School Districts will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day. 

Library staff will be available to answer questions about the 2018 spending plan tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the library. 

The amount of the tax increase varies by district. East Hampton’s sum will go up just over $73,500, Wainscott’s by $19,000, and in Springs it will rise by $11,400. The library has estimated that the annual increase to the average household, if the proposal is approved by voters, would be $6.62. The largest increase in dollar terms in the 2018 library budget is for staff, including salaries and insurance. The total proposed budget for next year is $2.58 million.

Absentee ballots can be picked up at the library or from any of the school district offices by Saturday. They must be returned to the respective district clerks by 5 p.m. on Sept. 16.