Hampton Bays Library Budget Passes

The 2012/2013 budget was approved by voters on Tuesday in a 158 to 26 vote.

According to Hampton Bays Library Director Susan LaVista, the $2,014,350 budget includes $195,000 in debt service and is up 3.13 percent from last year.

LaVista said the increase accounts for $12,000 in additional library materials and programs; $5,000 for general operations; $3,000 for building and grounds services; and $39,000 for salary and health benefit costs.

The library, said LaVista, is expecting a 14 percent increase in health benefit costs for employees.

The tax levy for the budget, said LaVista is $1,785,500 or two percent more than last year's levy. As per the state's , the library cannot raise taxes more than two percent.

For a homeowner with a home assessed at $350,000 that equates to an additional $6.69 per year for a total tax of $179.84. And for a homeowner with a home valued at $500,000, their annual tax bill will go up $9.84 for a total of  $265.91 in library taxes.