Library seeks additional funding

By NEAL RENTZ

Representatives from the Lewisboro Library came to the Nov. 10 Town Board meeting to seek additional funding for 2026.

The discussion was part of the ongoing work on the 2026 budget. The board is working to reduce the potential tax increase in the tentative 2026 budget as it works toward a preliminary budget plan. The tentative $17.78 million budget would raise property taxes well above the town’s state-mandated cap of 2.5%. But Supervisor Tony Gonçalves has said the tax hike will be reduced significantly by the board during the budget process. 

The Town Board provided the library with $612,933 in funding for the current year and the library’s original request for 2026 seeks an additional $85,028.

Library Board President Maggie Liegey told the Town Board that about 3% of the town’s annual budget is provided to the library. The library, which was last renovated and expanded a decade ago, “is starting to show signs of wear and tear, requiring us to prioritize the growing list of deferred maintenance,” she said. 

The town asked the library to reduce its town funding request and the library board’s Finance Committee has met twice to work to comply with the request, Liegey said.

Liegey said the library’s proposal for additional funding was modest.

“It reflects rising hard costs and the beginning of a much needed and more comprehensive maintenance plan,” she said. “It also takes into account more aggressive fundraising efforts on the part of the staff and library board through our mailed appeals.” 

The library conducts other fundraising events every year, including holding its Library Fair, she said.

There is a need “for the library to grow and evolve alongside our growing and evolving town,” Liegey said. “The library is the heart of the community and in that sense, it’s priceless.”

Library Director Cindy Rubino said the library’s budget is spending an additional $5,000 on its fundraising efforts. As of this year, the library is no longer charging fines for late returns of materials, which is part of a national trend, though it continues to charge for lost books, Rubino said.

The library lost a children’s librarian and a teen/adult librarian at the beginning of this year, Rubino said. The salaries for the two open positions needed to be raised to attract and retain employees, she said. The children’s librarian’s salary rose by 17% and the pay was 7% higher for the teen/adult librarian, she said, adding the higher costs were not budgeted in the 2025 spending plan. 

Library hours were returned to pre-COVID levels by reinstating Sundays and staying open late on Tuesday nights, Rubino noted. The additional library hours were requested by the Town Board and by residents who responded to a survey, she said. 

Health care premiums for library employees are expected to rise between 10% and 15% in 2026, and the library has provided enough funds to meet a 15% increase, Rubino said. 

Total salaries and benefits have been budgeted by the library to rise by $50,000 next year, Rubino said. 

“The library has been underfunded for years,” Rubino said. “We can’t catch up like other municipalities.” 

Lewisboro is 37th in municipal funding among libraries in Westchester with only Mount Vernon ranked lower, Rubino said.

The building also has maintenance needs, including new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; a move to LED lighting because fluorescent lighting is being phased out; preventative maintenance; outdoor maintenance including extensive work on trees on the library property; and the building and maintaining a capital reserve fund for upkeeps and replacements. 

Councilman Richard Sklarin asked if there was an estimate of the cost of the building issues laid out by Rubino. Library Treasurer Stephen Unterhalter said the estimated cost is $430,000 over eight years. 

“I understand the challenges quite well,” said Sklarin, who was a library board member for six years. 

Sklarin asked if the library was considering becoming a taxing district because it currently has no taxing authority. 

“It’s up for discussion at the next Finance Committee meeting,” Unterhalter replied. 

Rec superintendent appointed, grant announced

Also at this week’s meeting, the board voted unanimously to appoint Recreation Supervisor Nicole Caviola as superintendent of recreation. 

Caviola is currently earning an annual salary of $100,000 as recreation supervisor. She will begin her new job Jan. 1.

“Nicole has worked hard with her team to make a difference for all of Lewisboro,” Councilwoman Mary Shah said, adding she has increased programming in her department. 

Gonçalves announced the town recently received a “slip and fall prevention grant.” He thanked Chief of Staff Kerri Wolfe for her work to obtain it. 

In a follow up interview this week, Wolfe, who is also the town’s benefit administrator, said the grant was from PERMA, the town’s workers compensation carrier.

“The grant is to be used to complete a comprehensive facility assessment to identify potential slip, trip and fall hazards,” she said. “Upon evaluation, the town will be awarded $5,000 to purchase equipment to remediate any hazard areas.”