Island Trees Library Budget: What You Need to Know

Editor's Note: The following information, as well as the subsequent trustee bios, were provided to Patch by the Island Trees Public Library.

The Island Trees Public Library budget vote and Trustee election will take place on Tuesday, April 24 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Library’s Dolores M. Morehouse Community Room.

The Island Trees Public Library is sensitive to taxpayer concerns in these difficult times and is therefore increasing the budget 1 percent. The staff and trustees of the library are committed to providing excellent service, materials and programs in a cost-effective manner.

The total proposed tax levy amount for 2012-13 is $1,145,624, which represents an $11,343 (1 percent) increase over the previous year.

The average annual library tax per household is $170. Public Library taxes are based on the assessed value of your property multiplied by the library tax rate.

The Island Trees Public Library slightly reduced operating hours in 2011 in order to reduce the personnel budget by 5 percent. The library has slightly reduced the collections budget and has held the line -- or reduced wherever possible -- in the operations budget.

The only lines that have increased are costs which the library does not control, most of which are federal and state-mandated costs such as pension and health care.

Library Trustee Candidates: One library trustee will be elected for a five-year term that begins on July 1, 2012 and ends on June 30, 2017.

The four candidates for the position are: Laurence H. Brown, Salvatore J. Rinaldi, Stefanie Rynkar and Howard Y. Taylor. (You can read each candidate's bio by clicking on their names.)

Voter and Budget Information: The Island Trees Public Library encourages all district residents to vote. The library is located at 38 Farmedge Road, Levittown. You are eligible to vote if you are registered to vote in the general election or in the school district election.

The budget is mailed to every household in the Island Trees School District. Copies are also available in the library.