Brandon Twp.- A public hearing on the library budget will begin at 6:45 p.m., Aug. 24, at the library, 304 South St. Attendees can expect to hear good news.
Library Director Rebecca Higgerson will be presenting a proposed 2016 library budget with projected revenues of $1,039,083, an increase of 9.5 percent over the 2015 budget, thanks to higher property values in the township. Expenditures are projected to be $955,197 for 2016 adding $86,000 to a fund balance that is anticipated to have $245,000 at the end of 2015.
‘I couldn’t be happier,? said Higgerson. ‘The library board and staff did a phenomenal job to have more money put away than expected so we will be able to add to the fund balance, which is really great.?
The board and staff did this in the face of adversity, she notes, after the sudden resignation of former director Paula Gauthier at the end of 2013, when it was discovered that Gauthier did not have the proper credentials, including college degrees she claimed to possess, in order to oversee the library. The deception cost the library thousands of dollars in lost state aid, and library officials filed suit against Gauthier last year, seeking to recover more than $270,000 in damages.
Higgerson said the library hopes to have the lawsuit resolved this fall.
‘Because of everything we went through in 2013-14, we are surprised to have as much money in reserve as we do,? said Higgerson. ‘The staff did a great job and shouldered positions that went unfilled. I think the overall outlook of the library is stable, better than what we were expecting and the fact that our revenue is up 9.5 percent helps us provide better service and materials to our community.?
With some of the revenue increase, the library is planning to add to their collection, particularly digital content that will be available only to township library patrons.
The final library budget is expected to be approved in October.