#BethlehemPublicLibrary #Budget #SpotlightNews
Bethlehem Public Library has a proposed budget of $4.2 million for the 2108-19 fiscal year. The levy portion of the budget comes in at about $3.9 million, an increase of 2.78 percent over last year and within the state-mandated spending cap.
With the proposed spending plan, the library strikes a balance between new and core responsibilities with a greater allocation of funding for the materials line, allowing for the ongoing purchase of movies and books – in print and digital formats – and providing a boost to the Library of Things collection.
Salary and general operations costs remain largely stable, with a small increase to the furniture and equipment line to accommodate some planned service enhancements.
“The 2018-19 budget is based on actual lending data and allows us to remain flexible in serving the needs of the community while staying within the state-mandated tax cap,” said library director Geoffrey Kirkpatrick.
A detailed budget chart is available in the May/June issue of the Footnotes newsletter and online at bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
Bethlehem Central School District residents will vote on the budget Tuesday, May 15, from 7 a.m.-9 p.m. at Bethlehem Central High School.
Also on the ballot are two full-term, five-year seats and one partial-term seat on the board of trustees. The partial seat has a term of three years. Seats will be filled in order of the number of votes received. On the ballot are Caroline Brancatella, Mark Kissinger and Harmeet Narang, all of whom are current trustees on board.
An informal Meet the Candidates evening will be held at the library Wednesday, May 2, at 6 p.m.
Dealing with ASD behavior challenges
On Monday, April 30, learn how to address the sometimes challenging behavior of a child with ASD, autism spectrum disorder, at our “Tantrums, Tears and Timeouts” program, presented by University at Albany’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. The talk takes place 6:30-7:30 p.m. and is geared toward parents and other caregivers.
All events are free and take place at Bethlehem Public Library, 451 Delaware Ave., Delmar. For more information, call (518) 439-9314 or visit bethlehempubliclibrary.org.
— Kristen Roberts
