By Nick Norlen, Staff Writer
The budget request adopted by Princeton Public Library’s board of trustees on Tuesday featured only a 3.56-percent increase in the municipal portion of the operating budget — under the 4 percent cap requested by the borough and the township.
The municipalities, whose governing boards will ultimately decide whether to accept the library’s request during their respective budget processes, requested that the library limit its increases due to the cap on budget and tax increases, that are faced by municipalities throughout the state.
The request approved by the library board includes a 2008 operating budget of $4,652,925, along with a $143,000 request for capital expenses.
If approved, the municipalities would cover $3,697,503, with the balance funded by private donations and grants.
Based on tax ratables, the township would cover 70 percent, or $2,588,252, and the borough would cover 30 percent, or $1,109,251.
According to Library Director Leslie Burger, the municipal portion traditionally covers building, maintenance and salary costs, with the funds from the Friends of the Princeton Public Library and the library foundation’s endowment going toward materials.
The library’s 2007 operating budget was $4,504,046, along with $31,000 in capital expenses.
Along with the 3.56-percent increase for the borough and township, the 2008 request includes a 3.31-percent increase overall.
Ms. Burger called the increases “modest.”
Capital budget requests made in the 2008 budget include seven items listed in priority order: $40,000 for computer and server replacement; $10,000 for media shelving; $6,000 for supplemental air conditioning in the server room; $25,000 for radio frequency identification chips for material inventory; $25,000 for an additional vestibule door to control heat and cooling loss; $22,000 for lighting improvements; and $15,000 for end panel computers.
A budget summary document reviewed by the board Tuesday states that the library was able to offset operating budget increases by “increased revenues from non-tax sources including generous contributions from the Friends of the Library and the Library Foundation’s Endowment fund.”
However, the document states that such income is “intended to supplement municipal and other contributions and is not intended to supplant tax funds for the daily operation of the library.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, library officials cited concerns that the municipal governing bodies would see the significant private contributions as a sign that the library doesn’t need all the requested funding.
However, Ms. Burger noted “in fairness to the borough and the township” that the two municipalities support the library “far in excess of what is required by law.”
Nevertheless, Ms. Burger has said the budget leaves some items to be desired — and said any additional cuts made during the budget’s review could mean layoffs for library employees.
She said Thursday that library representatives will be present when the governing bodies discuss the budget, but said she doesn’t know what to expect.
”I think the problem that the two municipalities face, as does every other municipality in New Jersey, is how to deal with increasing costs in a situation where they have caps,” she said. “I think its going to be a very painful process with everybody.”

