The Rosendale Library will hold its annual budget vote and trustee election on Thursday, September 4. Polls are open from noon until 7:00 p.m.
2026 Budget Information
The Rosendale Library is seeking a minor increase in tax funding for the library for the 2026 budget. The tax levy for 2025 was $373,700. The proposed tax levy for 2026 will be $391,650. This is a 4.8% increase, less than $5 per year for a property assessed at $150,000. The 2026 proposed budget can be found on the library’s website and on the reverse side of this sheet.
The increase in the library’s budget is necessary in order to comply with the state minimum wage increase to $16.00 per hour (a 3.23 % increase over 2025) and other external factors such as increases in the cost of health insurance, the high cost of e-books and streaming services, loss of federal grants, and a 10% increase in fees we pay to the library system. The library’s staff and board of trustees are devoted to reducing costs while delivering exceptional services. The budget prioritizes maintaining up-to-date collections including newspapers, electronic equipment, and a clean and welcoming facility. Our library is known for its high-quality educational programs and other public services. The Friends of the Library have worked tirelessly to raise funds to support programs like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and supporting the library by buying new equipment like picnic tables in 2025. The total library budget for 2026 will be $421,650 which includes $20,000 for capital improvements which will be paid for from the library’s capital reserve fund.
Trustee Information
There are four openings on the board. Incumbents Rose Unes and Rachel Helm are seeking second terms on the board. JoAnne Jones was appointed to the board in April 2025 to fill an unexpired term and is seeking to be elected to the seat. Maria Reidelbach is seeking a first term. There are three full four-year terms ending 12/31/2029, and one three-year term ending 12/31/2028.
Absentee Ballots
Applications for absentee ballots can be downloaded from the library’s website 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 28, 2025, by 5 p.m.) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or by the day before the vote (Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 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 4, 2025).