Hampton Bays Library Budget Vote is Aug. 9

The community will be able to vote on the Hampton Bays Library 2012 budget on August 9 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the library.

Library Director Susan LaVista says the new budget includes an increase of about $28.36 per year for the average homeowner whose property is assessed at $450,000. Total spending for 2012 is budgeted to be $1,953,231, which is a 3.9 percent budget to budget increase over last year. The tax rate increase is 6.2 percent.

The increased budget will fund  a 17.9 percent increase in library programs.

“We have a waiting list for adult computer classes,” said LaVista, who added that the library is busy all day long.

She said there is also a ten percent increase for movies, music, audio books. Free downloads, which includes eBooks, audio books, movies, music and databases, represents a 14 percent increase.

The budget line for buildings and equipment repairs will go up by 75 percent.

The building was renovated and expanded ten years ago, but not everything was updated, said LaVista.

“The building and systems are in need of repairs and additional maintenance to keep up with the demands made on them every day by the hundreds of people who come in daily,” she said.

The salaries and benefit lines reflect an increase 2.6 percent.

LaVista said she does not expect any money from the state, which usually adds $3,000 in revenue.

LaVista compared with the library is asking for—an extra $28 per year—with what many households pay for other sources of information: a subscription to New York Times is $46.80 per month; a subscription to Newsday is $25.56 per month; cable can cost $34.99 per month and $100 per month if the household signs up for the Optimum Triple Play and a night at the movies for two adults and two children, without popcorn or soda is $39.00.

Also, a seat on the library’s board will be up for a vote this fall. The term limit for a board member is two five-year terms, effectively bringing Jack O’Keefe’s tenure to an end in December.

“I highly recommend doing it,” said O’Keefe at last Monday night’s . “It gives a great feeling of satisfaction because you can actually see the results of what you’re doing.”

Anyone interested in serving will be committing to one meeting on the first Tuesday of every month, committee work and being an advocate for the library. Applicants must be a resident of the Hampton Bays School District and have been a patron of the library for at least one year. Applications are available at the library’s front desk and are due September 2.