By PAULENE POPARAD

The Westchester Public Library Board of Trustees gave unanimous approval Thursday to publish a proposed $2,741,566 operating budget for 2007 that would allow the library to continue building up cash reserves.

Public hearings on the budget will take place Aug. 10 and Aug. 24. Deciding how much and where to put WPL’s planned savings will be up to the board. “These are good problems to have,” said WPL director Phil Baugher.

Originally presented last month at $1.87 million for next year’s operating expenses, Baugher said he’s added $871,066 that could be transferred into the Library Improvement Reserve Fund (LIRF) and still leave enough to put $300,000 into a rainy-day fund.

Whether or not the library can save the full amounts anticipated will depend on next year’s planned recarpeting of Thomas and Hageman libraries, expected to be a major expense. Last night the Library Board OK’d recarpeting the Library Service Center, a much smaller total area, later this summer.

This year’s operating budget is approved at just over $3 million with an anticipated $1.25 million to be moved to the LIRF. WPL currently has $2.14 million in investments and its 2006 property-tax distributions have yet to be received.

To support the 2007 operating budget $1,975,563 would have be raised through property taxes compared to $1,883,282 this year.

Also proposed for next year is $260,705 for the separate Capital Projects Fund. This year the CPF’s annual appropriation is $304,122.

Baugher said he’s submitting the 2007 budget --- $1.2 million of which represents salaries --- at a 4.9 percent increase over last year to allow for changes in the assessments despite indications that Indiana tax officials will approve only a 4 percent hike. WPL’s budget is being based on an assessed valuation of $1.68 billion.

Baugher also said he’s holding the increase sought to 4.9 percent because at 5 percent or above the library budget would have to be approved by a second government unit in Porter County.

Board member Rick Hokanson asked what the phase-in of Indiana’s new 2-percent cap on property taxes paid on residences and eventually all real and personal property will mean to WPL. “We have no idea what the impact of that will be down the road,” replied Baugher.

Long-range planning begins

Baugher distributed copies of planning manuals the board was asked to review in preparation for updating by year’s end WPL’s strategic plan. The current plan, adopted in 1999, extends through 2010. Included in the manual was a recent assessment by WPL staff of the library system’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Baugher said some of the topics in the current plan are still viable and pertinent like area growth and keeping pace with emerging technologies, while WPL attorney Terry Hiestand said some goals have been accomplished like moving the library’s historical museum to the Brown Mansion.

Baugher said current challenges like space and funding will continue to be a primary focus, as will what types of services WPL should provide, in what format and at what location. The board decided a planned futures workshop slated for this month should be postponed until the fall. Baugher said separate public planning sessions may be needed but discouraged convening focus groups.

Statistics continue upswing

WPL circulation for June was up 11 percent over last year and year-do-date up almost 19 percent system-wide. Board member Vern Odom noted the adult fiction at Thomas Library in Chesterton experienced a 97 percent circulation increase last month; Hageman Library in Porter posted a nearly 117 percent jump in adult fiction and a 718 percent hike in DVDs circulated there.

Overall this year 193,985 materials have been circulated at both libraries. Also tracked are WPL’s public service units (PSU) like web-page hits, meeting room reservations, reference questions, museum visitation and patron computer use. When all four WPL buildings are tallied the usage increased in June to 95,017 PSU.

Also Thursday, Baugher announced that the Friends of the Library will have a special book sale July 22 and 23. Most books will be unsorted and offered for $1 per volume.

The director said he still hasn’t had success getting the current audio-book vendor to configure patron access to WPL’s 1,200 titles to the library’s specifications. Alternate solutions are being explored so more-recent popular titles can be added.

Staff changes approved were Courtney Cassler moved from a page position to a clerical position; Katelyn Holsclaw and Annette Groeneweger selected as pages; and Victoria Duhamell added to the museum staff. Most changes came about due to resignations.

Posted 7/14/2006