Northport Library Budget Passes

Residents passed the Northport-East Northport Library 2013-2014 budget Tuesday 494 to 173. The $9,329,400 represents a tax rate increase of 2.18 percent and falls below the state two percent cap.

Library Director James Olney said that the library will be able to continue offering the same level of programming it now provides under the new budget. An $52,800 increase in equipment costs is for an upgrade to the library's phone systems which Olney said have exceed their useful life.

Other significant increases in the budget are fuels and utilities, health insurance and disability, and debt service. The library has also factored in an anticipated decrease in interest and library service grants.

Voter turnout was the same as last year when voters passed a $9,130,400, representing a 1.82 percent tax rate increase.

The new 2013-2014 budget goes into effect on July 1. It is attached to this article as a PDF.

Incumbent library board trustee Elizabeth (Betsy) McGrail was also elected to another term.