2015 Budget

2015 Mid-Year Budget Hearing before members of the Erie County Legislature’s Finance and Management Committee

Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Briefing to members of the Erie County Legislature by Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski, Library System Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Stone and Chair of the System Board of Trustees, Theodore K. Johnson on the Library’s mid-year budget status. Mid-Year Budget Hearing FINAL 2015.pdf | Mid-Year Operating Financial Report (as of April 30, 2015) which was distributed to the lawmakers.

2015 Adopted Budget Information

Operating Budget
On December 18, 2014, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees Adopted the Library’s 2015 budget. The Library’s Operating Budget, including county funding, state aid and library revenue, increases 1.8% from 2014’s $26,254,549 to $26,718,710 in 2015. Erie County’s funding for the Library, over 85% of the operating budget, will increase 1.9% from 2014’s $22,588,324 to 23,013,857 in 2015. Given that the property tax base is estimated to grow by approximately 2.6%, the 2015 Library Tax rate will decrease modestly. The Library very much appreciates Erie County’s support for library programs and services.

Current service levels and open hours are maintained. Recently settled contracts, anticipated contract settlements, and impact of 2015’s $0.75 per hour New York State minimum wage increase are funded in the budget. The contract settlements provide modest wage adjustments, the first for these groups since 2006, as well as employee contributions towards the cost of health care and provisions lowering the employer share of both active and retiree health care costs into the future.

Other Funding
In addition to the operating budget, the 2015 Library Grants Budget anticipates $619,911 in grant funding, a 1.1% increase from 2014’s $613,444.

While not part of the Library’s operating budget, $1 million in Erie County Capital funds will support improvements to the County owned downtown Central Library. The approved capital allocation provides $500,000 to rehabilitate the Auditorium and $500,000 to address mechanical, electrical and plumbing rehabilitation needs in the 50-year-old building.

For more information about the Library’s 2015 Budget please see:
2015 Adopted Budget, Resolution, Charts & Graphs (Click Here)
2015 BECPL Adopted Budget Line Item Detail with Notes (Click Here)
Library Return on Investment – see the value of library services in Erie County, based on 2014 figures

2015 Proposed Budget – 11/24/2014 Budget Hearing

On Monday November 24, 2014, Trustee Elaine Panty, Library Director Mary Jean Jakubowski and CFO Ken Stone presented an overview of the Library’s 2015 budget request to the Erie County Legislature’s Finance & Management/Budget Committee and answered legislators’ questions. The budget presentation and accompanying charts and graphs may be viewed by clicking the links below:

2015 Budget Hearing Presentation Text (Click Here)

2015 BECPL Proposed Budget Funding and Performance Charts (Click Here)

Subsequent to the Budget Hearing, on December 2, 2014, the Erie County Legislature unanimously adopted a 2015 budget for Erie County. The Legislature amended County Executive Mark Poloncarz’s proposed budget, reducing net expenditures by $2.1 million resulting in a small cut in the County Property Tax Rate. After the budget adoption, County Executive Poloncarz stated: “Today is the culmination of a process that started in late summer. I want to thank the Legislature and my Budget Office staff for the passage of an on-time, non-acrimonious Budget that in the end, includes a small tax decrease for the residents of our community.” His full statement is available at: http://www2.erie.gov/exec/index.php?q=12214-poloncarz-statement-passage-2015-erie-county-budget.

The Legislature reduced the County Executive’s 2015 proposed budget for the Library by $26,233. With this change, County funding will increase 1.9% from 2014’s $22,588,324 to 23,013,857 in 2015. The reduction was made in the overall Library fringe benefits account - no positions were eliminated. Proposed service levels and open hours are not affected. The Library’s overall operating budget, including State Aid and library revenue, would increase 1.8% from 2014’s $26,254,549 to $26,718,710 in 2015.

The Library Board is scheduled to consider adoption of the Library’s 2015 budget during their regularly scheduled meeting, Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 4 p.m.

2015 Proposed Budget

On Tuesday October 15, 2014 Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz released his 2015 proposed budget.

Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski expressed her appreciation, stating: On behalf of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System we want to thank Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for recommending a county funding increase of $451,766 (2.0%) to libraries in his 2015 proposed budget through funds generated by growth in the equalized full value property tax base so there is no increase in the property tax rate. We are also pleased the Poloncarz Capital plan includes $1 million funding for rehabilitation work at the Central Library. We sincerely hope that the full Legislature will approve the County Executive’s proposal and appreciate their past support.

County funding of $23,040,190, combined with $2,637,731 in anticipated funding from New York State and $1,687,033 in other library revenue, brings the Library’s 2015 proposed operating and grants budget to $27,364,854, a modest 1.8% increase over the 2014 adopted budget. Current service levels will be maintained and high tech bookmobile service will hit the road during 2015 (funding to purchase the bookmobile was provided in the County’s 2014 Capital Budget).

Erie County’s 2015 Proposed Capital Budget will support improvements to the county owned downtown Central Library. Specifically, $500,000 to rehabilitate the Auditorium and $500,000 to address mechanical, electrical and plumbing rehabilitation needs in the 50 year old building.

The County Executive’s budget is a vote of confidence for the work the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is doing on behalf of the community. The Library is committed to providing access quality resources and information in a variety of formats and technologies to meet its mission, connecting our diverse community with library resources that enrich, enlighten and entertain.

Information on the proposed budget may be found in the links below. This page will be updated as the budget process moves forward.