Any further cuts by municipalities predicted to force layoffs
By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
The Princeton Public Library is complying with the municipalities’ request to “hold the line” on its budget, but any additional cuts made during its review could mean layoffs for library employees, Library Director Leslie Burger said Tuesday.
And drafting a budget without more of an increase will mean fewer additional services than desired, Ms. Burger said.
While emphasizing that the draft of the budget reviewed by the library’s board of trustees Tuesday was very tentative, Ms. Burger said it features an approximately 3 percent increase in the municipal portion, as requested by both Princeton Township and Princeton Borough.
Municipalities throughout the state are facing spending restrictions from state mandates that limit municipal budget and tax increases.
According to Ms. Burger, the tentative total budget discussed Tuesday is $4,610,925, of which $3,677,503 would be covered by the municipalities — with 67 percent coming from the township, and 33 percent from the borough.
The balance would come from the library’s income sources, she said.
During the meeting, board member Ryan Lilienthal questioned if there is any guarantee that the municipalities won’t make further cuts.
”Last year we presented a good-faith budget, and they cut us,” he said.
But Ms. Burger said “there can’t be any cuts. If there’s any cuts here, then there’s layoffs.”
Township Mayor Phyllis Marchand said such circumstances should be made known by board members during the municipal budget sessions.
Though most of last year’s amounts are maintained in the budget, it features an $18,000 decrease in materials costs.
That change includes a $30,000 decrease in spending on books, but features increases in other areas, such as audio and visual materials, Ms. Burger said.
She said Wednesday that complying with the municipalities’ request to “hold the line on the budget” has been a challenge.
”It doesn’t allow us do some of the things that we would like to do,” she said, citing a wish to extend library hours on nights and weekends. “There’s a whole list of things, if I had some funding, that I would like to do that would really enhance library services for the community.”
Ms. Burger said she expects the board of trustees to hold a special meeting to adopt the budget some time in the next two weeks.