It was a good day for area libraries as voters overwhelmingly approved their annual budgets last week and elected trustees.
Brookhaven
Brookhaven Free Library voters approved next year’s spending plan and elected two new trustees, Brittany LaValle and Jackie Dennis Subhash. The vote cleared the way for $948,425 in spending, a $22,234 increase over the current plan, according to Library Director Jamie Papandrea. The budget carries a 2.4 percent tax hike which is within the state’s tax cap formula, and amounts to a slight increase in the $106.73 cost per average homeowner for library services.
Center Moriches
Residents shrugged off a state tax cap-busting 8.11 percent increase and approved a $1,192,885 spending plan which represents a $89,500 increase over the current budget. A little over $47,000 of the budget puts the library over the cap, according to Library Director Marcie Litjens. Overall, the library will spend $4,146,585, with $2,725,000 in revenue expected to come in from the neighboring communities that use the library. The average homeowner in the district will pay about $400 for library services this year. Running unopposed, Deborah Cannarelli was ushered in for another term.
Longwood
Voters approved a $8,380,225 spending package for the Longwood Public Library, an increase of $271,921 over this year’s plan. The budget represents a 3.5 percent tax increase, below the allowable state cap, reported Library Director Lisa Jacobs. Total library spending will be $8,713,225 under the plan, with costs offset by anticipated revenue and a $200,000 fund balance. The average Longwood homeowner will pay about $387 for library services annually under the budget. Incumbent Gail Lynch-Bailey ran unopposed and was installed for another five-year term.
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A $10,613,000 budget, under the state tax cap at 1.4 percent, was okayed by voters for the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Library. The plan represents a $148,499 increase over current spending and includes $778,876 in capital monies approved in a 2019 referendum to build new annexes and rebuild the main branch on William Floyd Parkway. Total library spending will be $11,270,375 including the money for the new projects, and would amount to about $680 per year from the average homeowner, according to Library Director Kerri Rosalia. Incumbent trustee Joseph Furnari was elected to another term.
Patchogue-Medford
Voters said yes to a $9,265,770 budget for the Patchogue-Medford Library, a spending increase of $194,382 over the current plan. The budget comes within the state tax cap at two percent, according to Library Director Danielle Paisley. Residents will pay about $460 on average library services. Eleanor Ryder won another term as trustee and Aida Alicea was elected to fill an open seat.
South Country
South Country Library voters approved a $3,279,015 budget which carries a $89,287 increase over last year and within the state’s two percent tax cap, according to Library Director Kristina Sembler. The two trustee candidates vying for two open seats, Regina Crawford and Joann Neal, made it through.