GLOVERSVILLE — For the first time, Gloversville Public Library’s budget proposal has failed.
Voters on Tuesday narrowly struck down a proposed spending plan, which included a $118,455 increase in spending and 56.9% tax levy hike. The final ballot count was 174-163.
In hindsight, GPL Board President Gregory Niforos believes the library stakeholders could’ve been more proactive in advocating for the collection kitty bump. He doesn’t regret the proposed tax adjustment, given increased labor expenses.
“I think we didn't get our message out to the importance of the library and what we're doing in the community as well as we could have,” Niforos said. “And so that's what we will work on this year.”
As a result of the vote, the library will operate under an austerity budget, keeping the tax levy at $613,695. Finance committee members are soon expected to address budget gaps.
At this time, officials aren’t considering layoffs. However, Niforos anticipates that future vacancies will not be filled under most conditions.
“It'll be a delicate balance to go from there,” said the board president. “And we'll be as fiscally responsible as we can to make sure the library can remain successful in the next election.”
GPL received a charter from the state Board of Regents in 2005 to function, in part, under a referendum-approved tax model after facing a series of financial setbacks. At the time, the then-125-year-old library was at risk of shutting doors.
Property taxes from Gloversville and Bleecker, in addition to parts of Caroga, Mayfield and the town of Johnstown, account for 85% of the budget. The tax levy for the 2023-24 fiscal year is $613,695 — as it will remain for at least the next fiscal year.
Raising the levy to $963,445 would make up for piecemeal adjustments put on the ballot in the past and would’ve prevented the library from making similar increases within the next several years, according to Niforos.
Out of $1,126,647 proposed, approximately $878,247 — more than 75% of the budget — was slated to go towards salaries and benefits for about 20 staffers. This line was set to increase 13.9%.
It was earmarked to mostly cover salary increases — which are adjusted in order to stay competitive with the minimum wage — and part-time positions required per a $500,000 state grant.
“It is disappointing, but the amount of people who showed up to vote shows that libraries are an important part of this community and our supporters were very vocal about wanting this library,” Niforos said. “We just weren't able to get enough people out to vote in favor of our budget.”
Clarence Chamberlain of Peck’s Lake believes that more people would’ve voted against the library budget proposal had they known about it ahead of time. He voted against the proposal after learning about the tax levy hike in the Leader-Herald.
“That’s something that should’ve been all over,” said the town of Johnstown resident. “That’s something that should’ve been all over TV, all over Facebook, should’ve had signs out on the street weeks ahead of time telling people what was going on if they wanted a real vote.”
So far this fiscal year, the library has had 64,222 visitors, 52,129 items circulated and 9,989 people attend meetings and programs.
Chamberlain believes the library’s programs are excessive, slamming free offerings such as open mic and karaoke nights.
“The taxpayer should not be funding a community entertainment center,” he said.
Chamberlain’s mother Jonnie Perry is also pleased that the tax levy will remain the same.
“Well, that’s a good thing even though it’s still too much,” she said.
Advocates for the library have boasted that the institution provides a medley of resources for the community beyond the traditional model.
“The other thing that's hard is that people who have never used the library, they really don't know how different libraries are now,” said Elizabeth Batchelor, a former library board member.
Batchelor, the former co-chair of the Gloversville Public Library capital campaign, added that her “heart is broken” over the vote.