New Rochelle Library Asks for Increase in Tax Levy

The New Rochelle Public Library, with its 2013-14 proposed budget, is asking city voters to OK a 3.99 percent increase in the tax levy.

Library Director Tom Geoffino said it was a difficult choice to make between asking for an increase above the state-mandated tax cap and cutting services.

"It's a frugal budget that sees increases in non-discretionary areas," he said, such as an 18.5 percent increase in state retirement funds.

"Certainly, New Rochelle taxpayers carry a heavy load with taxes," Geoffino said, "but we use the money in a resourceful manner."

He said his staff wears many hats and cited what he said was a startling statistic.

"Out of 38 libraries in the county, if you look at staffing per capita, we are 38th out of 38," Geoffino said. The New Rochelle Public Library has 0.83 full-time staff per each 2,000 of population, the lowest in the county.

The number of full-time staff positions at the library has decreased from 42 in 2005 to 31 in 2013.

For 2013-14, the total budget is proposed to increase 4.2 percent over 2012-13 to $4,656,755.

That results in a tax levy increase of 3.99 percent, up from 2.20 percent in 2012-13.

The average homeowner could see an annual increase in library taxes of $10.79.

Geoffino said the library is subject to the state tax cap, but the board of trustees voted in a supermajority to override the tax cap.

Now, he said, it's up to the voters who will decide on May 21 whether to approve the budget. It only has to be approved by a simple majority, Geoffino said. 

There will be a public hearing on the library budget at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 9, in the library's Ossie Davis Theater.

The library budget vote is on the same day as the school district budget vote.