New Rochelle Library Reduces Operating Costs in Proposed Budget

Spending at the New Rochelle Public Library could go down next year if voters approved the proposed 2012-13 budget.

The library's board of trustees released the budget this week, proposing a decrease in the operating budget from $4,473,725 in 2011-12 to $4,468,996 in 2012-13—or -0.11 percent.

Budget committee Chairman Bernardo M. Nunez said the proposed budget will have an increase in the tax levy of 2.2 percent, which is below the allowed amount under the state property tax cap law.

The tax levy increase translates to an increase of $93,209 in the tax levy, or an annual increase of $7.31 per average homeowner.

Voting will take place May 15, the same day as the New Rochelle School District budget vote.

Nunez said this was the second year in a row total operating costs have decreased. Staff positions decreased from 42 in 2005 to 30 in 2012, though no staff cuts are anticipated under the proposed budget, he said.

"We cut library materials by $90,000," Nunez said. "That is the life blood of the library."

He also said there were some services the library had hoped to introduce, along with a ramping up of e-books and audiobooks that will not be able to take place.

"It's sad, but the expenses are there," Nunez said.

He said he hopes the changes will be seamless to the average user.

"We will be asking more of the staff," Nunez said, adding they've been supportive in the past.

"We hope the voters see the value that the free library has for New Rochelle," he said, "and the community at large.

"We have to figure out other funding sources," Nunez said. "I think we are trying to work as best we can under a difficult economy."

CORRECTION: This article has been modified from its original version to reflect the correct 2011-12 operating budget and the 2012-13 proposed budget figures.