2016 Budget

2016 Mid-Year Budget Hearing before members of the Erie County Legislature’s Finance and Management Committee

Wednesday, July 13, 2016. Briefing to members of the Erie County Legislature by Library System Director Mary Jean Jakubowski, Library System Chief Financial Officer Kenneth Stone and Chair of the System Board of Trustees, Frank Housh, Esq., on the Library’s mid-year budget status.
Mid-Year Budget Hearing (pdf)
2016 Library Operating Budget Financials For Mid Year Legis Budget Hearing (pdf)

2016 Adopted Budget Information

On December 17, 2015, the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library Board of Trustees Adopted the Library’s 2016 budget. The 2016 Operating and Grants Budget sustains library operations and services at current levels. Further, it incorporates the impacts of contractually obligated costs related to current labor agreements and benefits. Those agreements provide for modest wage adjustments as well as employee contributions towards the cost of health care and provisions limiting the employer share of both active and retiree health care costs over the longer term. The Library’s overall operating budget, including State Aid and library revenue, increases 2.0% from 2015’s $26,718,710 to $27,261,091 in 2016. Including grants, the combined total increases 2.1% from 2015’s $27,338,621 to $27,917,085 in 2016.

While not part of the Library’s operating budget, $500,000 in Erie County Capital funds will support improvements to the County owned downtown Central Library. The approved capital allocation provides $250,000 to address mechanical, electrical and plumbing rehabilitation needs and $250,000 for Life Safety System improvements (primarily upgrading the fire alarm systems) in the 50+ year-old building.

For more information about the Library’s 2016 Budget please see:
2016 B&ECPL Adopted Budget in Brief: Resolution, Charts, & Graphs (pdf)
2016 B&ECPL Adopted Budget Line Item Detail with Notes (pdf)
Library System’s Return on Investment – see the value of Library services in Erie County, based on 2015 year-end numbers. (pdf)

2016 Proposed Budget – 11/10/2015 Budget Hearing

On Tuesday November 10, 2015, B&ECPL Board Chair Ted Johnson, Library Director Mary Jean Jakubowski and CFO Ken Stone presented an overview of the Library’s 2016 budget request to the Erie County Legislature’s Finance & Management/Budget Committee and answered legislators’ questions. The budget presentation text may be viewed by clicking this link:

2016 Budget Hearing Presentation Text (pdf)

The text refers to the documents in the 2016 Proposed Budget section below.

2016 Proposed Budget

On Thursday October 15, 2015 Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz released his 2016 Proposed Budget.

The Library very much appreciates and thanks Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz for recommending a county funding increase of $460,277 (2.0%) to libraries in his 2016 proposed budget through funds generated by growth in the equalized full value property tax base so there is no increase in the property tax rate. The additional funding will help offset increased contractually obligated costs while sustaining Library operations and services. We are also pleased the Poloncarz Capital plan includes $500,000 funding for continued rehabilitation work at the Central Library We sincerely hope that the full Legislature will approve the County Executive’s proposal and appreciate their past support.

County funding of $23,474,134; combined with funding from New York State of $2,135,104 in operating and $655,994 in grants; use of $714,843 in Library fund balance; and $937,010 in other library revenue, brings the Library’s 2016 proposed operating and grants budget to $27,917,085, a modest 2.1% increase over the 2015 adopted budget. Current service levels will be sustained and high tech bookmobile service will hit the road during 2016 (funding to purchase the bookmobile was provided in the County’s 2014 Capital Budget).

Erie County’s 2016 Proposed Capital Budget will support improvements to the county owned downtown Central Library. Specifically, $250,000 for continued rehabilitation of the 50+ year old building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and $250,000 to address modernization of the building’s life safety systems.

The County Executive’s budget is a vote of confidence for the work the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library is doing on behalf of the community. The Library is committed to providing access quality resources and information in a variety of formats and technologies to meet its mission, connecting our diverse community with library resources that enrich, enlighten and entertain.

Information on the proposed budget may be found in the links below. This page will be updated as the budget process moves forward.