Library Board of Trustees Finance Subcommittee Virtual Meeting
Library Finance sub-committee discussed Council Order 2025-089 (a proposed $6M operating override) and confirmed the Board's signed letter was mailed to the Mayor; reviewed FY27 library budget scenarios including possible staffing or hours reductions if level-funded; and reviewed proceeds from sale of 5 School St and 9 School St and planned FY27 capital requests (including a ramp and updated gutter cost estimate $250k–$300k).
The Finance sub-committee reviewed three substantive items. Under Council Order 2025-089 (the proposed $6 million operating override), members noted there was nothing further to add beyond the October full Board discussion and that the Library Boards signed letter on the override was mailed to the Mayor on October 20, 2025. For the FY2027 budget the Director reported the Library Professional Staff Union had not yet ratified an agreement that would provide 2% wage increases for FY26–FY28; this uncertainty, along with increased consortium fees, produces a scenario where maintaining current staffing and funding salary increases would require approximately $16,500 in cuts to meet a level-funded appropriation. The Committee discussed options including cutting budgeted hourly work (an additional set of hours for Meghan and 5 hours/week in the historical commission line), reducing open hours (current 53 hours/week vs. MMAR minimums of 50 and an allowable low of 45 which would reduce state aid by ~10%), and collecting visitors-per-hour data to inform scheduling decisions; it was noted that a successful override would allow the Director to request increased staffing, restore Saturday lunch-hour service, and seek a dedicated custodian and higher collections funding.
The Committee also discussed proceeds from the sale of 5 and 9 School Street and learned contractor expenses will reduce the net funds available; CPA and MPPF grant funds will be available in calendar 2027. Mehan and the Director were tasked with compiling Master Plan priorities and aligning them with available funding pots; the Committee agreed to submit a FY27 capital request and are inclined to include the cost of a ramp in that request. Window Woman will provide a budget figure and the updated cost estimate for the gutters was reported at approximately $250,000 to $300,000. No substantive formal votes on policy, budget adoption, or ordinances are recorded in these minutes; the only recorded motion was to adjourn.