Vote Ahead on Library Budget

Voters from the East Hampton, Springs, and Wainscott School Districts will be eligible to vote Saturday on the 2015 East Hampton Library budget. The polling will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the library.

Next year’s spending plan of just over $2.2 million contains an $85,500 increase in expenses over 2014, a total increase in taxes of $104,000. The largest growth, about $76,486, is for salaries, benefits, insurance, and related staff costs. Facilities costs, including building and grounds keeping, rise by about $19,000.

The amount of tax collected from each of the three school districts varies depending on their population. East Hampton’s share of the increase would be about $80,000; Springs residents would pay an additional $17,489 in library taxes, and Wainscott would contribute $6,255.

Over all, the total to be raised by taxes in 2015 would be $1.6 million. The proposed budget anticipates fund-raising and donations to be about $472,000. In a statement, the library said that the cost of the tax increase to the average taxpayer would be $6.60.

Saturday’s vote is open to all registered voters in the three school districts.