Support Your Local Library with Your Vote
submitted by Deposit Free Library Board
When voters go to the polls at this year’s school budget vote, they will see an additional proposition on the ballot. Following the propositions for the annual DCS budget and school buses, a proposition for increasing Deposit Free Library funding will appear. The increase being requested is $5,000, raising the annual funding to $70,000 from its current level of $65,000.
Since 2007 the Deposit Free Library has received tax monies from the residents of the Deposit Central School District. These funds are collected by the school district annually and paid to the library. They provide our only guaranteed source of income. Due to increases in the costs of doing business, Deposit Free Library trustees have decided to request an increase for 2025-26. The following proposition will appear on the school budget ballot on May 20:
Shall the proposition be approved authorizing the Board of Education of the Deposit Central School District to levy taxes annually so that the amount of taxes paid to the Deposit Free Library be increased from $65,000 to $70,000, in accordance with New York State Education Law 259; this tax to be separate and apart from the annual school district budget and to serve as the annual appropriation until modified by a future vote of the electors of the Deposit School District?
To date, library trustees have only gone to the voters twice in 18 years; first in 2007 and again in 2020. Following five years of increases in operating costs, they feel it is time once again to ask the people of Deposit for their help. An increase in funding will allow us to keep up with increases in salaries, insurance, technology, and other operational costs. It would also allow us to continue offering quality programming for all age levels and technology services that many residents utilize (faxing, copying, printing, public computers, free wifi, and computer assistance).
To answer the most commonly asked questions about this proposition, library trustees provide the following information.
Commonly Asked Questions
Does the school district own the library or control its funds?
No. The school and the library are separate. The library is chartered as an association library – not a school district library. This means the library owns its building and property. The school’s only involvement is collecting the library tax and turning those funds over to the library. The school district is not responsible for library maintenance, operating costs, or construction projects.
Does the library receive any other public funds?
No. The library stopped receiving public funds from the Village of Deposit, Town of Sanford, and Town of Deposit in 2007. Broome County stopped providing library funding in 2018.
Why not apply for grants to get more funding?
Most grants available to non-profit agencies will not cover operating expenses. We do apply for and often receive grants to cover the expenses of major capital projects and for some of our programming costs.
How will the library use the increased funding?
The library will use the increase to pay for operating costs, salaries, insurance, programming costs, technology services, and the purchase of new materials.
Will the library trustees go to the voters every year asking for more funds?
We do not have plans to ask for annual increases. Many libraries do ask for increases every year or every two years. Our trustees made the choice not to return to voters until we really felt a need for more funds. With increases in the minimum wage, insurance costs, materials costs, and automation fees, that time has come.
What happens if the proposition is voted down?
The library will continue to receive $65,000 each year from tax monies.
How much will this increase mean on my tax bill?
Increases for the average homeowner should be minimal. Most property owners pay only $10-20 per year for all the library services we offer. We estimate that the proposed increase will raise that amount by another dollar or two.
This proposition gives the voters the opportunity to decide on the level of library services they want to provide for the Deposit community. The library director and trustees would be happy to provide additional information or respond to questions at any time. You can also look on the library’s website at www.depositfreelibrary.org for further information or contact the director at de.deborah@4cls.org. Our hometown library has been a mainstay of the Deposit community since 1929, and our patrons and residents have kept us going and improving for almost 100 years. We deeply appreciate that support. Please vote on May 20th!
