Library releases 2016-2017’s proposed budget with 2.4 tax levy increase

Riverhead Free Library has released its proposed budget for next year, which includes a $83,567 proposed tax levy increase.

The proposed budget calls for a $3.67 million operating budget, up from $3.58 million last year. The tax levy would increase from $3.45 million to $3.54 million, which amounts to an increase of $83,567 or 2.4 percent.

Riverhead Free Library’s board of trustees said they kept the budget “as low as possible.”

“Every possible cost-cutting measure is utilized without cutting materials or services,” they wrote in a budget information document released last week.

Last year’s budget was approved by voters with 170 in favor and 86 against, with a total voter turnout of 256 residents.

When voters go to the polls on the library budget proposal, they are technically voting on a contract between the Riverhead Central School District and the Riverhead library management association. The library is not a separate taxing district.

The library vote has traditionally been held separately from the school district budget vote, as allowed by state law.

A budget hearing will be held in the library craft room Tuesday March 8 from 7 to 7:30 p.m.

Residents of Riverhead Central School District can vote on the budget April 5 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the library’s grand meeting room.

Editor’s Note: (March 1, 2016) The original budget information document did not include all of the expenditures planned in the proposed 2016-2017 budget, although it had the correct proposed total expenditures and tax levy. The document has since been updated, with the changes highlighted in yellow.