Rockville Centre Library holding line on budget

Despite facing steep increases in its mandated retirement fund contributions, the Rockville Centre Public Library proposed a 2010-11 budget that trims many expenses and keeps increases low.

If approved in a May 18 vote, the proposed 2010-11 budget would increase by 2.79 percent, which equates to about $7 in taxes. That would bring the average homeowner’s tax bill to about $265 for the year.

“We did our best to keep the budget down, and I think we did a good job considering what we were handed,” said Library Director Maureen Chiofalo.

The biggest increase was in the library’s contribution to the employee retirement fund, which went up about 75 percent, or $82,000.

To help make up the difference, the library cut $45,000 from its capital expenditures. “We have things to keep up in the building, and that’s what we’re using that money for,” said Chiofalo. “But we’re going to have to play soft and slow with that for a while.”

Additionally, the library made small cuts across the board, to things like book, DVD and CD purchases, periodicals and newspapers, and even small cuts to programming.

With the books and periodicals, the library is not going to be buying less, though—it’s going to be going digital.

“[It’s] really good because a lot of these things we can get with our computer reference subscriptions,” Chiofalo said. “So it’s not that we’re not going to have the availability, it’s just that we’re changing formats.” Going digital with periodicals and reference books will save the library money, as the e-versions of the books are cheaper than hard copies.

Saving money on periodicals also helps the library fund its programs. In the last year, attendance at library programs has increased, and the library’s circulation has increased six percent.

“People are learning that they don’t have to spend $20 at Barnes and Noble,” said Chiofalo. “They can get it here for free.”

The library budget will be put to a vote along with the school district budget and library and school trustee candidates on May 18.

Comments about this story? ACostello@liherald.com or (516)569-4000 ext. 207.