Pound Ridge library budget plan would hold line on taxes

By NEAL RENTZ

The Pound Ridge Library Board of Trustees is reviewing a $874,097 operating budget for next year that would not increase taxes.

The spending plan was discussed by Robert Bellhouse, chair of the board’s Finance Committee, during the June 23 library board meeting. He worked on the budget with Library Director Jennifer Coulter and library staff.

The budget calls for a spending rise of 0.4%, an increase of $3,200.

In the category of property and grounds, Bellhouse said the plan would decrease spending for the lawn and snow contract by $1,000 because last winter was an especially harsh one. Also, in the property and grounds category, the budget looks to raise spending for building and ground maintenance by $20,000.

Bellhouse said the library would raise spending on technology other than the Westchester Library System to $42,000, an increase of $10,000. 

Board President Richard Esman said the trustees were not seeking to increase taxes and therefore, the budget would not need to be approved by voters in September. The board will review the budget individually and will vote on it at the next meeting, July 27, Bellhouse said. 

Annual audit

On another matter related to the library’s finances, the annual audit for 2025 was presented by Jeffrey Shaver, a partner with PKF O’Connor Davies, the library’s auditing firm. 

Shaver said the library received an unqualified opinion, which is defined as “having financial statements fairly presented.” The designation “is the most favorable opinion you can receive,” he said.

The library had a total fund balance of $1,780,974 at the end of last year. The fund balance increased by $83,408 last year, Shaver noted.

“It is a healthy fund balance for a library your size,” he said, adding the fund balance was not excessive.

Library is more than books

Also at this week’s meeting, Coulter presented results of the library’s recent survey.

The survey was conducted from April 23 through June 1.

Coulter said 107 residents answered the survey. The survey indicated that 77.6% of respondents stated that they visit the library at least a few times a month; 62.4% stated they would visit the library more often if there were better parking and access to the library; and 87.9% stated that books and media are “very important,” she said.

Coulter said 54.7% of respondents said nothing prevents them from visiting the library more often, while 34.9% said parking and transportation is a barrier to visiting the library more often.

The survey asked which improvement priorities are practical and action oriented. Coulter said 62.4% wanted better parking and easier access to the library; 40.9% wanted more programs and events at the library; 14% wanted additional operating hours; 9.7% wanted expanded collections; and 9.7% wanted improved online services. 

Coulter said survey respondents stated that the library was more than a place to borrow books. She said the survey asked how important the library was to the community. Coulter said that 87.9% of the survey takers stated that the library was a place for books and media; 79.8% said it was an educational resource center; 79% stated it is a community gathering place; 73.9% said it was a place for services for children and families; 71.1% stated the library was a cultural hub; and about 71% said the library was a place for workforce and lifelong learning.  

When the library goes before the Planning Board to propose additional parking spaces, the presentation should include survey data about patrons’ concerns about the current parking situation at the facility, Coulter said. She also said in response to the survey results, the library could hold new pilot programs during evenings and weekends and track attendance. In addition, the library should implement online appointment booking for passport and notary services through the new library website which is scheduled to be in place later this summer, Coulter said.