Chappaqua Library Budget, at Nearly $2.9M, Has 2.5% Levy Hike

On May 21, when Chappaqua school district residents have a chance to vote on the proposed 2013-14 school budget, they will also be able to vote on the proposed library budget.

The proposal calls for spending $2,899,729, an increase of 2 percent for the prior budget. The tax levy, which is the amount of property tax revenue to be collected, is set to rise by 2.5 percent, to $2,845,229. While the state-mandated tax levy cap is set at 2 percent, the library is technically within the cap because of an exemption for a change to the local tax base.

The tax rates, which are the amounts that people owe per $1,000 of assessed property value, are projected to rise by 2.58 percent for New Castle residents (by $0.07) and by 3.15 percent for Mount Pleasant residents (by $1.14). The difference is due to a figure called the equalization rate, which is used because the two towns assess their properties at different percentages of their market values.

Library Director Pam Thornton discussed the budget before the Chappaqua school board at Wednesday's meeting; the library is politically part of the school district. She described several notable changes, including a drop in operating income (from $58,000 to $48,000) because few people are paying late fines due to use of a text messaging program that reminds them to return materials, savings in electricity, fuel and water due to an energy audit and tools, and boosts for spending on materials and programs. 

The budget vote will be at the same time as a vote for a single open seat on the library's board of trustees, which multiple candidates are running for.