The Rosendale Library will hold its annual trustee election and budget vote on Thursday, September 7 from noon to 7 p.m. at the library.
The Rosendale Library is seeking a modest increase in tax funding for the library for the 2024 budget. The tax levy for 2023 was $340,000. The proposed tax levy for 2024 will be $352,300. This is a 3.62% increase, amounting to an increase of around $3.20 per year for a property assessed at $150,000. This will exceed the state tax cap by 1.62%. The 2024 proposed budget can be downloaded here or picked up at the library.
The increase in the library’s budget is necessary in order to comply with the state minimum wage increase to $15.00 per hour (a 5.6% increase over 2023). Other external factors such as increases in the cost of health insurance and utilities, are also driving the increase. The library’s staff and board of trustees have worked hard to hold down costs while providing excellent services. The budget continues to be focused on maintaining up-to-date electronic equipment, a clean and welcoming facility, and relevant collections. The demand for e-content continues to rise among our patrons and the library has again increased spending on e-books and other streaming services. The library also provides many educational programs and other public services. The library has applied for and received grants that have covered enhanced programs and improvements to the library’s infrastructure in 2023. The Friends of the Library have also worked hard to raise funds within the community to support the library. The total library budget for 2024 will be $375,800 which includes $15,000 for capital improvements which will be paid for from the library’s capital reserve fund.
Trustee Information
There are three openings on the board. Incumbents Sheila Dixon and Beth King, and one new trustee, Jeffrey Graf, are each seeking full four-year terms ending December 31, 2027.
Applications for absentee ballots can be downloaded here or picked up at the library. Please follow the instructions on the application. A completed application must be received by the Rosendale Library at least seven days before the vote (Thursday, August 31, 2023, by 5 p.m.) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or by the day before the vote (Wednesday, September 6, 2023, by 5 p.m.) if the ballot is to be personally picked up at the Library. The completed ballot must be returned to the Library no later than 7 p.m. on the day of the vote (Thursday, September 7, 2023).
