The Hicksville Public Library is proposing a $3,995,000 budget for 2003-2004, a $540,151 or .15635 percent increase of the current year's budget of $3,454,849.

Based on a home assessed at $4,600, the cost of the proposed budget would be $2.717 per $100 of assessed valuation - an increase of $1.24 per month or $14.92 per year - for a total tax bill of $144.52. For 2002-2003, the average Hicksville homeowner paid $129.60.

Included in the proposed budget is enhancement of book, video, DVD and CD collections as well as continued programming. In addition, minimal increases have been allotted for personnel and operational costs, including salaries, supplies, maintenance and professional fees. Capital improvement costs in the amount of $660,000 have also been proposed for expansion of the library's parking lot on Jerusalem Avenue and construction of a Computer Resource Center.

While the library is anticipating a state aid reimbursement of $8,000, funding for library is based mainly on tax dollars. Please note that the Hicksville Library operates with a budget and board independent from that of the school district.

The Hicksville Public Library Board will hold its March meeting on Wednesday, March 26 in the Kenneth S. Barnes Community Room. The proposed 2003-2004 library budget hearing will be conducted during a public session beginning at 8 p.m.

If you are not registered to vote you may register at the library on Wednesday, March 26 from 3 to 8 p.m. To be eligible to vote, you must be a United States citizen, have lived in the district for 30 days and be 18 years of age or older. You do not have to register if you have voted in any election in the last four years.

Voting for the 2003-2004 budget will take place at the Hicksville Library on Wednesday, April 2 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, call the Hicksville Public Library at 931-1417.