Bellmore Memorial Library Board Reveals $2,453,411 Budget

The Bellmore Memorial Library budget meeting for fiscal year 2010-2011 was held on Thursday evening.

"This budget will enable the Bellmore Memorial Library to serve 12,998 residents in the Bellmore Union Free School District," Assistant to the Director Patricia Furlong said.

Former Library Director Steve Bregman retired as of Feb. 28, leaving the position vacant. It is unclear when a new director will be appointed.

"As a Nassau County Civil Service Library, the Bellmore Library is required to hire from a director's list," Acting Chairman Herbert A. Friedman said. "We will wait until we can find the right person."

Friedman led the meeting in the absence of a director, and he was joined by Furlong and board members Karolyn Hertzberg and Emily Schreiber.

The total net operating budget for the fiscal year is $2,453,411, up from $2,434,683 in the fiscal year 2009-2010. There was no year-to-year budget increase in 2009-2010. Expenditures on personnel services account for the majority of the budget, with $1,836,960 allocated for library and custodial staff as well as retirement, social security and health insurance. This amount is $23,658 more than last year's allocation.

"The library's paid staff is the full-time equivalent of 20.10 staff members," Furlong said.

Salaries for the equivalent of approximately 20 full-time paid staff members amount to $1,075,184. An additional $691,113 of the total personnel services cost will be spent on benefits for members.

Resources allocated to personnel services were the only budgetary area for which spending increased in the budget. Costs for library materials and the automated library integrated system remained at $295,250 and $40,000, respectively.

Funds for "other operating expenses" – including library supplies, insurance and utilities – contract operations and capital expenses decreased by $16,300, $8,000 and $25,171.

According to the explanation of items in the budget information sheet available at the library, the cost of library books has increased by 5 percent annually and the library has downloadable audio and electronic books, compact discs and DVDs available to the public. Despite the increase and abundance of resources, the budget does not provide for an increase in spending on library materials.
The total gross operating budget is $2,494,911; however, $41,500 in refunds to the library district, primarily derived from $25,000 in fines and rentals.

The Bellmore Public Library budget vote and trustee election will take place on Thursday, April 8 from 2 to 9 p.m. All registered voters who reside within the Bellmore Elementary School District can vote.