Increased funding for library books, programming, employee raises and utilities are among the items in the 2026 budget approved Tuesday night by the Library Board.
During the meeting, the board also unanimously agreed to increase the mill levy rate to support these additional costs and future plans for the library.
As previously reported, the rate will move from 3.19 to 3.72. The board estimates this will amount to a $12 increase per year in taxes for a $200,000 home.
No members of the public attended the hearing to discuss the increase.
Board President Kenny Massey said these hearings are held to ensure transparency to taxpayers and provide an opportunity to give residents a voice.
The 2026 budget includes around $81,000 more in tax revenue than the 2025 budget. The library’s overall income is expected to be $510,624.
Expenses include a 2.5% cost-of-living raise for employees. Board member Eric Magette said he was glad to see this.
“When our money goes to our people, that’s money that we’re putting back in the community,” he said.
Massey agreed, saying the staff work hard and it’s important to retain them.
The budget also includes about $3,300 more for collection development for adults, teens and children, as well as $9,000 more for youth, adult and senior citizen programming.
Board member Amy Jankowski said they had to cut back on programming in the past year’s budget, so this increase helps to restore these funds.
Director Carol Wohlford said they haven’t been able to do as much for kids as a result of the prior cuts, so this funding will help support more frequent events and activities. The library also has “been pretty economical” in its collection development in recent years, she said.
The budget also includes $6,500 for employee professional development and around $60,000 in a contingency reserve fund for the library’s future needs. This involves potential maintenance in the existing library and/or costs associated with the library’s pending move to the former quilt shop building.
Massey said Tuesday night that the hope is to close on the 736 Main St. building around early November.
The new budget does not include line-item funding for a community navigator position. Massey said he met with United Way recently and the organization is moving forward with its own efforts to fund a navigator.
“During that meeting with them, I had no indication they would be coming to us for funding,” he said. “They’re trying to do this all in-house for a variety of reasons.”
In other business, Massey said he talked further with Interim City Manager Zack Daniel and local fire officials about the pending move to 736 Main. Massey said the city expects parking ordinance issues to work out, but a new agreement is needed now that Kaw Valley State Bank has transitioned to Farmers State Bank.
The city’s ordinance allows for property owners to obtain a variance by making shared parking agreements with neighboring entities. The library created an agreement with Kaw Valley State Bank for its parking spots, but will now need a new letter from Farmers State Bank.
Massey said he also talked to fire officials about what fire suppression may be needed, exit and entry details, and the possibility of a firewall somewhere.
Wohlford said she is still trying to get in touch with His Hands Clothing Closet to discuss the library’s pending move since it’s inside the 736 Main building. Massey has previously said the board is willing to discuss allowing the shop to remain there.
During her director’s report, Wohlford said a recent storytime event had 32 parents and children. Efforts are also in the works for a LEGO Club meeting and a Halloween party.
The board went into a 15-minute executive session Tuesday night to discuss the acquisition of 736 Main but did not take any further action after.
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