City Council Approves 3-Year Library Budget

Though patrons may see some increases in services and the overall collection at the Troy Public Library, plans to open the facility on Saturdays aren't in the near future.

"I would love to open the library on Saturdays, but with the current staff we don't have the funds to do that," Director Cathy Russ told Troy's governing body Monday night while discussing the library's budget.

City Council members on Monday approved a $2.9 million library budget for the fiscal year ending (FYE) in 2012 by a vote of 6-1. In addition, City Council approved a three-year budget that included the same amount for FYE 2013 and $2.8 million for FYE 2014. The budget is the first approved for the library since the passage of a .7-mill levy, which is to be used for exclusive library funding. Funding for the library had previously been provided by the city's general fund.

Councilman Martin Howrylak, who voted against approving the budget, suggested postponing the vote in hopes of answering questions he had about increases in some costs to the library, particularly an increase in information technology costs that are billed by the city's IT department.

The budget includes increased payment to the city's internal service fund for IT services. Russ said the cost to maintain and service each of the library's 104 computers increased from $2,800 to $3,300 per computer. City administrators said the cost throughout the city for computer services, as provided by the city's IT department.

The budget also includes $50,000 more in 2012 from 2011 for personnel services; $4,000 more in supplies; $95,000 more for the collection's budget and $20,000 for a consultant to assist with strategic planning.

The FYE 2011 budget was $2.6 million, down from $4.2 million in FYE 2010. The 2011 budget included severely reduced expenditures in anticipation of closing the library prior to the Aug. 2 special election.

Councilmen Howrylak and Wade Fleming expressed their desire to have the library open seven days per week -- a measure which city and library staff said wasn't likely prior to the Aug. 2 special election.

Russ said the last time the library was open seven days per week the budget was about $3.9 million, compared to the current $2.9 million.

"Right now, we have 56 staff on the books, including 50 part time," Russ said, adding that the library had 118 staffers when she started in 2007. "Right now, I'm very pleased I can keep the library open 55 hours per week, frankly."