The library budget hearing was held Tuesday, April 11 at 8 p.m., with library director Marian Robertson, president Senetta Koch, vice president Carol Ascrizzi, financial secretary Frank Hone and trustees Seval LaRocca and James Pelzer in attendance. They outnumbered the five residents seated in the audience.

Director Robertson gave the figures for the current year, 2005/06, followed by those proposed for 2006/07. Library materials $302,979/ $310,610 shows a slight increase. There is now room for all collections to grow and expanding the media collection is included in the budget; Operating expenses $244,608/ $370,966 have increased with the larger building. Cleaning services have been outsourced to save money; Equipment and supplies $111,200/ $88,659 is slightly lower anticipating new equipment will require fewer repairs. Costs for Nassau Library System services have been budgeted higher because public libraries in the county are billed according to the number of patrons, size of collection and volume of circulation-all expected to be higher with the new building; Postage, printing, programs $104,500/ $107,830. Postage has decreased slightly in spite of the postage rate increase; Salaries, retirement, social security, insurance $2,255,257/ $2,415,158 increased due to mandated salary increases in the staff contract; Administrative expenses $30,580/ $33,325. The total operating budget (less anticipated receipts) $2,809,124/ $3,011,548; Debt service $1,096,974/ $1,908,631. Total tax $3,906,098/ $4,110,179.

Last year the budget was defeated by seven votes, and rather than schedule a revote it was decided to operate under an austerity budget resulting in library closures on six holidays and 17 Sundays. This budget restores operating under a normal schedule. Since the last budget increase two years ago the cost of living has increased 7.4 percent, Robertson said, while the proposed budget contains an increase of 7.21 percent.

When it was time for questions from the floor one gentleman said he recently became a citizen and was there to better exercise his vote. Questions were asked about increased staff necessitated by a building two and a half times the size of the old one.

Having no further questions the board voted unanimously to adopt the budget and debt as presented. The budget hearing took 20 minutes.

Copies of the budget had been made available at the reference desk of the library and on the library's webpage www.manhassetlibrary.org. Copies of the budget have also been available at the Munsey Park Elementary School, Shelter Rock Elementary School, Manhasset Middle School and Manhasset High School during their normal business hours.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained at the information desk during regular library hours on any day that the library is open. For more information, please call the library director Marian Robertson at 627-2300.

Remember to vote on Tuesday, April 25.