The Levittown Library Board of Trustees gathered for their monthly regular board meeting on March 1, as well as their second open budget meeting. In front of a sparse crowd at the Library's Community Room, the proposed 2006-2007 budget was discussed, following a presentation on what architectural changes might be on tap.

New Levittown Library Director Celeste Watman has been working closely with Lee Sagistano of LAS Associates (a space planning and interior design firm) to come up with a multi-phased plan of improving the adult section of the library. Sagistano has been working with the library on various projects for over 30 years. He was very instrumental in the renovation of the children's area of the library which has been described as "one of the nicest in the county," by Trustee John Bosco.

Watman was extremely active in helping remodel the Hicksville Library during her time working there. So, the combination of all this experience working together is a thrilling prospect for the future.

The overall master plan, with the expected cost at approximately $1.2 million, is expected to be completed over a three-year time period.

Some of the changes include the previously mentioned renovation of the young adult, adult and reference areas, a relocation of the central offices, a vast improvement of the lighting, and the lowering of the ceiling for better heat and air conditioning that should in turn save money and energy.

Phase 1 is the current plan for this year, which looks to undertake part of that master plan, and would require only the existing money available in the budget.

This presentation is certainly an exciting proposition for all Levittown residents, but what had some puzzled is the tax hike that will be a direct result of it. However, Trustee Dr. Jacklyn Nogan explained that the raise in taxes would only be about $26 per household per year over the next three years, for a total of $78 during that time period.

"We are not behind in technology and computers, but we certainly are in lighting and are inefficiently using our space," Nogan said about the necessity for this improvement.

The $5,564,517 2006-2007 budget represents a $708,822 increase over the previous year. The total annual average library tax per household is $326.36. If both the budget and Proposition No. 3 passes, the estimated average library tax would be $342.03 per household.

A library press release states, "The board of trustees is committed to a continuation of hours and all current services at a minimum increase in cost. The board has developed a proposed budget for 2006-2007 that realistically reflects the cost of operating the library. The personnel codes provide funds to meet the provisions of the third year of a three-year contract with CSEA, the collective bargaining agent for the library employees."

The Levittown Library was established in 1950, and has been at its current location on Bluegrass Lane since 1963. In 1968, it became the Central Reference Library for the Nassau Library System. The prospect of this impending overhaul is exciting for many trustees who have seen minimal changes since the library's inception. Longtime Levittown Library Board Trustee Dennis Conway simply said of the renovation, "It's time."

The library currently offers 68 hours of service per week with four additional hours on Sundays from October through May, 224,106 books, 10,203 CDs, 611 periodicals, 14,369 DVDs and videos, access to online indexes/databases/periodicals and the Internet.

Despite these plans, the fate of this reconstruction is still in the public's hands, as nothing will happen without an approval of the budget. The library budget vote and trustee election will be held Tuesday, April 4, between noon and 9 p.m., in the Levittown Library Community Room.

A proposed budget was mailed to all Levittown households and lists all the exact expenditures and proposed increases. Residents register to vote at the Levittown School District Clerk's Office at Levittown Memorial Education Center, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. up until seven days prior to the vote.