By Kim Siebert MacPhail
Thursday night’s Finance Committee meeting was the first of several during which town departments present their FY2014 budgets for review. Both the Library and the Assessors’ Office were on the agenda last week and both were able to put forward budgets within FinCom’s 2.15% budget increase guideline.
Library
FY13 library budget = $1,167,382/Proposed FY14 budget= $1,171,865
Overall, because of two high-level staff departures, the library’s personnel budget will decrease from $796,234 to $791,721. That said, Library Director Richard Callaghan reported that, for the first time in the eight years he’s been director, he’s asking to increase staff hours due to two factors: record-high circulation numbers and an increase in teen programming that is supported by the Reference department.
“The Teen Librarian has been increased to 28 hours from 20 hours,” Callaghan said. “Mainly this is due to [the fact that] we have more teens coming in the library and she runs a lot of programs for the teens, especially every Wednesday after school [gets out early] because the minute they get out, they’re all coming over to the library.”
Before upping the Teen Librarian’s hours, Callaghan said, “We did alter some part-timers’ hours so that not all those eight hours are included in the budget [increase], only about five are. We absorbed some of that.”
Another small impact on the budget is the addition of four hours a month for delivery of library materials to homebound patrons, a service that had been performed for 37 years by a volunteer who can no longer continue.
“I’ve decided that it’s better for the library to have one of the staff members do it,” Callaghan reported. “It’s not a big program. It used to be bigger but we talked to Carlton-Willard who delivers to us a couple of times a week in their van. We actually have the driver drop some of the things off [now] so that’s a free service for us.”
FinCom member Ben Thomas asked whether the staff member has a designated Town vehicle to use for the homebound deliveries. Callaghan replied that his building manager, who has taken on this duty, receives a vehicle allowance only.
Another favorable factor in the budget is the decline of natural gas prices. The library therefore anticipates a $1,000 savings on that line item.
Of concern to Callaghan, however—with regard to eligibility for state aid— is whether or not merit pay raises will affect his budget next year as they did this year.
“[For the current] year, I came in within the budget guideline but then the merit increase changed before Town Meeting and nothing was [added to] my budget [to pay for it],” Callaghan explained. “Because of that, it’s going to be very, very close whether or not we get state aid for [for the current year.] It was only a change of about $4,500 but with state aid [that little amount matters in their calculation.] If [merit raises are] approved as proposed, it’s no problem.”
Callaghan also spoke about wanting to change the way in which fines are accounted. Currently, the first $17,000 goes into the Town’s General Fund and everything after that goes to the library. What Callaghan proposes, so that he can budget with a definite number, is that the library receive the first sum—whatever that agreed-upon amount might be— and the remainder goes to the Town.
Looking back over figures from years past, Town Finance Director Victor Garofalo said that the sumthat has gone to the library after the first $17,000 has been as high as $16,000 and as low as $10,000.
Generally, FinCom members agreed that reversing the arrangement was worthy of consideration.
FinCom chair Mike Seibert asked Callaghan if anything had to be squeezed out because of the budget guidelines. Callaghan answered, “Not really,” although he said he did cut the “materials” line item a little in the budget now being proposed. Upon further reflection, Callaghan replied that if he had more money, he would add staff and be open additional hours.
FinCom’s Thomas thanked Callaghan for all he does, saying, “I think I speak for most people here: the library is pretty fantastic.”
Assessors
FY 2013 Assessors’ budget=$264,139/Proposed FY14 budget=$262,880
Board of Assessors chair Bruce Murphy called the FY14 a “standard, steady-as-you-go budget,” saying that a staff retirement is the cause of the slight decrease in overall department salary costs that are reflected in lower budget needs for next year over the current year.
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