2023 Budget
2023-24 Proposed NY State Budget – Library Impacts
On February 1st, Governor Hochul released her Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget (the State fiscal year runs from April 1, 2023 – March 30, 2024). Highlights and video may be found at https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-highlights-fy-2024-executive-budget
The State FY 2024 budget provides library operating and construction aid for our calendar year 2023 Budget.
The Proposed Budget reduces library aid from what was provided in the FY 2023 Enacted Budget:
1. Operating aid is reduced $3.5 million (3.7%) to $96.1 million statewide. For the B&ECPL this would mean aid would fall short of the 2023 budget by approximately $145,000.
2. State Aid for Library Construction is reduced $20 million (59%) down to $14 million statewide. This would lower the funding allocation available for B&ECPL & its member libraries by $914,226 (from $1,551,184 down to $639,958.
The PDF linked below shows the changes:
2023-24 Proposed NY State Budget - Library Impacts (Click Here)
More information about the State Budget may be found at:
https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy24/ex/index.html
The Library community will advocate for improved support.
2023 Adopted Budget
On December 1st, the Erie County Legislature adopted a 2023 County Budget with amendments. The Legislature-approved amendments did not change the County Executive’s 2023 Proposed Budget allocation for the Library Fund.
The 2023 Operating and Grants Budget sustains library operations and services in an evolving post-COVID world. It prioritizes public access to resources, programs and services to help us serve our communities. A county funding increase of $1,849,674 (7.0%) will help offset inflation related impacts on library operating costs, including contractually obligated labor costs, a $1.00 per hour increase in the minimum wage, costs of supplies and utilities in this challenging fiscal environment.
The Library’s overall operating budget, including State Aid and library revenue, increases 4.0% from 2022’s $30,291,713 to $31,491,387 in 2023. Including recurring grants, which are estimated to increase by 7.4%, the combined total increase is 4.0% from 2022’s $30,963,591 to $32,213,226 in 2023.
While not part of the Library’s operating budget, the County’s Capital Budget provides: $2,000,000 in bond funds to replace the Central Library’s roof and $250,000 in “Pay As You Go” funds for other Central Library improvements, which are anticipated to leverage $250,000 in state funds for a total of $500,000..
Information on the adopted budget may be found in the links below. This page will be updated as the budget process moves forward.
2023 Adopted Budget Information
2023 B&ECPL Adopted Budget Document (Click Here)
2023 B&ECPL Adopted Budget by Cost Center (Click Here)
2023 Proposed Budget
On Friday October 14, 2022 Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz released his 2023 Proposed Budget. He is recommending a county funding increase of $1,849,674 (7.0%) to libraries through funds generated by growth in the equalized full value property tax base. As the tax base is reported to have grown by 13%, the Library Tax Rate per $1,000 will decline. The additional funding will help offset inflation related impacts on library operating costs, including contractually obligated labor costs, costs of supplies and utilities in this challenging fiscal environment.
County funding of $28,285,362, combined with New York State operating aid funding of $2,321,930, use of $716,119 in Library fund balance, and $167,976 in other library revenue, brings the Library’s 2023 proposed operating budget to $31,491,387; a 6.2% increase over the 2022 County Adopted Budget. In addition to the operating budget, $721,839 in estimated state aid is included in the Library Grants Budget.
Erie County’s 2023 Proposed Capital Budget supports improvements to the county owned downtown Central Library:
$2,000,000 in bond funds to replace the Central Library’s roof; and
$250,000 in “Pay As You Go” funds for other Central Library Improvements/Upgrades (which are anticipated to leverage $250,000 in state funds for a total of $500,000).
Next year’s budget prioritizes public access to resources, programs, and services to help us serve our communities. We are extremely grateful to County Executive Mark Poloncarz and the Erie County Legislature for their support of libraries, especially during these challenging times.
The next event in the budget review process will be the Library’s budget hearing before the Erie County Legislature’s Finance & Management/Budget Committee expected to be scheduled for a date in approximately mid-November. A public hearing/comment opportunity on the overall County Budget is expected to be scheduled later in November. This page will be updated once dates and times are finalized. The Legislature’s deliberations will continue until their vote on the proposed budget, scheduled for December 1st. Should there be any vetoes, the Legislature has scheduled a veto override vote on December 15th.
Information on the proposed budget may be found in the links below. This page will be updated as the budget process moves forward.
2023 Proposed Budget Information
Erie County Proposed Budget Document Excerpts - Library Operating, Grants & Capital (Click Here)