Voters residing in the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library District borders will have a chance to vote on their library’s 2013 budget this Primary Day, Sept. 13.
The proposed budget is just over $4 million, a 2.2 percent increase over this year’s spending plan. The tax levy would stand at $3.7 million, resulting in an estimated 2.7percent tax rate increase, which for the average homeowner with a property assessed at $250,000 would mean a tax hike of about $4 for the year.
A line-by-line breakdown of the budget had not been released as of press time. Library Assistant Ann Cocca said that the biggest costs are for building maintenance, the automation system(for transactions of library items lent to patrons), health care and staff salaries. An itemized budget was promised to be posted on the library’s website, www.cphlibrary.org, in the near future.
The ibrary exists as a special district and as such does not receive any county funds. Cocca said the library implemented a salary freeze this year for its employees, who together make a workforce of 44 full-time equivalent positions.
The library is now in its sixth year at its new home at 475 Moe Road, which is the organization’s fourth home. The new building is LEED certified as energy efficient, and the library was built using $12.9 million in bonds. About $10.5million of that loan remains to be paid.
“The Library is still paying the bond off (for the building). It is a non-callable bond which cannot be paid off early,” said Cocca.
Every year the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Library hosts 950 community programs along with 22,000 visitors to those programs, according to figures provided by the library.
Along with the budget, voters will also have the chance to vote for five seats open on the Board of Trustees. One seat must be filled by a Clifton Park resident, the other four by Halmoon residents.
Two Halfmoon seats are being vacated by trustees Clifford Bueno and Deborah Curto, whose terms will expire at the end of the year. Bueno andCurto have both served two terms. The board is made up of 11 elected representatives, seven from Clifton Park and four from Halfmoon.
“If the seats are not filled the Board will have to appoint them similar to what was done last year. Trustees would solicit applications, conduct interviews and appoint for one year,” said Cocca. She added library officials hope that there is sufficient interest among residents to fill the seats.
A trustee typically dedicates five to eight hours each month to the library and is expected to attend monthly board meetings and sit on a subcommittee.
Those interested in running for a trustee seat can stop by the library and request a packet of information about the position. Each candidate is required to secure 25 signatures by residents in their town to be considered. The completed petitions are due Aug. 14.
“We are actively seeking candidates,” said Cocca. “We’ve had a lot of interest in the past, but a lot of people did not come forward.”
The library budget vote and trustee election will be held on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the library, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Registered voters (renters and property owners), living in the Library District are eligible to vote. Voters must be registered to vote at least 30 days prior to the vote.
Absentee ballot applications are available online at www.cphlibrary.org or at the library for those unable to vote in person on Sept. 13.
