East Hampton Library Budget Passes

Voters okayed a small increase for the 2013 operating budget at the East Hampton Library on Saturday.

Dennis Fabiszak reported the budget passed 195-to-36, an 84-percent overall approval. The tax increase for the average property owner amounts to $7.58 for the 2013 calendar year.

Registered voters in the East Hampton, Springs and Wainscott school districts were eligible to vote, between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., at the library.

East Hampton voters in favor of the budget amounted to 79-percent of the total votes from the school district, passing it 130-to-35.

Springs school district voters passed it 54-to-1 and Wainscott school district residents voted 11-to-0.

The library budget vote reflects only the third increase in the past 7 years.

The library expects to take in $1,989,605 — about $1.4 million of which is from library tax, a $119,720 increase. The rest comes from private funding and donations, fines, fees, State Aid, and transfers from fund accounts.

Expenses are budgeted to increase by $120,377 to just under $2 million.

The new children's wing addition was soley funded by private donations.