Center Moriches Proposes 8.11% Increase
Operating budgets and trustee candidates will be on the ballot April 4 as libraries across Long Island will look for spending increases to cover inflation and higher personnel costs. Most are staying within state-mandated tax caps, with some having uncontested elections for library board seats.
Brookhaven
The Brookhaven Free Library, the smallest within the local system, will ask residents to approve $948,425 in spending, a $22,234 increase over the current plan, according to Library Director Jamie Papandrea. The proposed budget carries a 2.4 percent tax hike which is within the state’s tax cap formula for the library, and amounts to a slight increase in the $106.73 cost per average homeowner for library services. Anticipated income of $91,041 from fines, gifts, donations and other sources will bring total library spending to $1,039,466. Inflation and employee health care costs are the main contributors to the increase, the director said. The district is pursuing an estimated $600,000 project to improve access to the library, a cost that is being covered by grants and existing funds, according to Papandrea.
Brookhaven is looking to fill two trustee seats and will have three candidates on the ballot: Brittany LaValle, Jackie Dennis Subhash, and Peter Toumbekis. Voting will be held at the Beaver Dam Road library from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Center Moriches
The Center Moriches Free Public Library will go to the voters with a $1,192,885 spending request, an $89,500 increase over the current budget. The spending will necessitate an 8.11 percent hike in the library tax rate, which is $47,603 over the allowable tax cap calculated by the state, according to Library Director Marcie Litjens. She attributed the increased costs to inflation, as well as employee health insurance and retirement costs. Overall, the library is looking to spend $4,146,585, with $2,725,000 in revenue coming from neighboring districts that use the library—East Moriches, Eastport-South Manor, and Speonk/Remsenburg—along with other income. The average homeowner in the district will pay about $400 per year for library services under the proposed plan. Trustee Deborah Cannarelli is running unopposed for another term. Voting will take place at the Main Street library from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Residents can learn more at an informational meeting hosted at the library March 27 at 7 p.m.
Longwood
Voters will be asked to approve an $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, which is 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. As with other libraries in the area, Jacobs attributed the increase to inflation and higher utility costs. The average Longwood homeowner will pay about $387 for library services annually under the plan. Incumbent Gail Lynch-Bailey is running unopposed for reelection. Residents can learn more at an informational meeting on March 22 at 7 p.m. at the Middle County Road library, which will also be the location of the vote on the fourth from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Mastics-Moriches-Shirley
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Incumbent trustee Joseph Furnari is seeking another term and is being challenged by Shirley resident Ken Olivo, a New York Office of Mental Health retiree. Furnari operates a commercial cleaning business and is on the staff of Senator Dean Murray. Voting will take place at the Mastic Beach Satellite Branch on Neighborhood Road in Mastic Beach from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Note: The voting location is not the Mastic Recreation Center as reported in last week’s South Shore Press. An informational meeting will take place at the recreation center March 27 at 7 p.m.
Patchogue-Medford
Library Director Danielle Paisley reported a vote for the Patchogue-Medford Library on a $9,265,770 budget, an increase of $194,382 over the current plan. If approved, the spending will come with a two percent library tax increase, which is within the state cap, Paisley noted. The increase is attributed to higher employee costs, contractual expenses and costs associated with the new Medford annex. With anticipated revenue, the library is planning to spend $9,424,157. Residents pay about $460 on average for the library with the new budget adding about $15 if approved.
Patchogue-Medford voters will consider a five-person field running for two trustee positions: Aida Alicea, Jeffrey Berthold, Al Pellegrini, Frank Rignola, and Amanda Sanford. The two current board members have chosen not to seek reelection. Voting will take place from 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. at the library on Main Street in Patchogue with an informational meeting held there on March 28 at 6 p.m.
South Country
The South Country Library is seeking voter approval on a $3,279,015 budget, a $89,287 increase over last year and within the state’s two percent tax cap, according to Library Director Kristina Sembler. A capital expense item of $102,000 is included in the proposed plan to help pay for a planned upgrade of the Station Road facility’s HVAC system and future interior space renovations. According to Semler, the library is looking to eliminate nearly all fines, further expand e-book and streaming services, hold fairs for social services, veterans and seniors, and roll out new classes for tech, nutrition, and health/wellness. The library did not provide an average cost per taxpayer.
Two trustee candidates will be on the ballot for two open seats: Regina Crawford and Joann Neal. Voters can cast their ballots at the library on Station Road in Bellport from 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. The library’s informational meeting on the budget has already taken place, but details can be found at its website at www.sctylib.org, similar to all of the library websites.