Ahead of Children's Wing Completion, Increase to East Hampton Library Budget

Voters who use the East Hampton Library will cast their ballots on Saturday in the annual East Hampton Library budget vote.

The budget is set to increase $141,263 for a total of just over $2.1 million, largely in anticipation of the children's wing addition at the library, expected to be finish early this winter.

Voters, on average, are looking at a $7.76 per year increase in taxes.

Responsible for the increase is mainly personnel costs, which are increase $106,623 and make up about $1.5 million of the overall expenditures. Dennis Fabiszak, the library director, said the additional funds will cover a new children's librarian and a new part-time custodian for the new children's wing. The two positions will be hired in January.

Facilities costs are also increasing, by $20,550, to $191,650. "The facilities increase is what we anticipate spending for electric, heating and cooling of the new children's addition," Fabiszak said.

The library will also spend $141,750 on materials, $6,750 more than the previous budget. Materials include books, audio books, periodicals, DVDs, music, and Ebooks.

Fabsizak is also planning ahead for a new author speaker series, and he has set aside an additional $5,000 in the fundraising budget of $94,700 for costs associated with it.

Expenses are not the only line items increasing. Estimate revenue is also expected to increase. Private fundraising and donations are estimated to go up $35,282 to $500,200. Income from fines, fees, sales and State Aid are also expected to increase $18,497 for a total of $51,742.

Since 1995, the community has donated $16 million to the library, reducing the money that has to be raised by taxes.

The library district tax will bring in just under $1.5 million, a $122,558 increase over the last budget.

The budget vote is held at the library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All registered voters in the East Hampton, Springs, and Wainscott School Districts are eligible to vote.