NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The New Rochelle Public Library Board of Trustees recently released the librarys proposed 2012-13 budget, which calls for a tax levy increase of 2.2 percent.
The average taxpayer will be asked to pay about $7.50 more for the next year, said Community Relations Coordinator Barbara Davis.
Davis said that the number is small considering the amount of time it is for and the variety of resources that are available for everyone to use at the library.
Davis added that everyone can take advantage of all the library has to offer, including New Rochelle residents who use it on a regular basis and residents who don't.
"It benefits the entire community," Davis said.
This translates to an increase of $93,209, or an annual increase of $7.31 per average homeowner, which falls below the New York State property tax cap, according to information from the library.
The budget will be voted on and determined by New Rochelle voters on Tuesday May 15.
The board and library administration took unusual measures to limit the tax levy increase, and it is as low as possible, Davis said.
Total operating costs have been reduced for the second year in a row. Staff positions have also decreased from 42 to 30 over the last seven years from 2005 to 2012, the library said.
The local public support per capita of the New Rochelle Public Library remains the sixth lowest in Westchester County.
The library board of trustees has been steadfast in keeping tax increases to the bare minimum requesting annual increments specifically tied to fixed increases imposed by contract obligations, rising costs of utilities and declining assessments in an effort to approach the tax burden in the most diligent manner possible, the library said.
To keep pace with the on-going rise in use of the New Rochelle Public Librarys services and resources, the library continues to pursue all the possible grant funding it can, the library said.
The library also relies heavily on the generosity of its three fund-raising organizations, including the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation, the Friends of the New Rochelle Public Library and the Partnership for the Huguenot Childrens Library for its programs, which Davis said are not affected by the budget.
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