Lincoln County reviews library budget; staff urge funding for cleaning, materials and interlibrary loans

During a Lincoln County budget meeting, county officials and library staff reviewed the library’s proposed budget and identified several lines they said must be adjusted to maintain services.

Library staff (Library director, S3) told the committee the updated payroll numbers — including a 5% wage increase — push the budget up by roughly $26,000 once wages and insurance are included. The director asked the county to restore funds for cleaning contracts and collections that had been cut in prior years.

“The cleaning contract is $872 just for the Libby cleaning contract,” the library director said, adding that branch staff are otherwise cleaning facilities themselves. The director said branches also pay for small building repairs and vehicle maintenance from the library budget and that repairs and maintenance have already approached the budgeted amount: “We’ve spent $15,000 in maintenance this year.”

Members discussed specific line items. Committee members and staff agreed an office-supplies level of $2,000 is defensible, and the director said technology funding should not fall below roughly $12,120 to avoid immediate shortfalls. The director argued for restoring education materials to $24,000 to resume purchases of large-print and audiobook formats that were paused during past cuts.

On interlibrary loan postage, the director said $4,000 was proposed to resume mailing books from other states but signaled that cutting that line to $3,000 would force a reduced service: “If I don't get that 4,000, we will just probably not do that service across the county anymore.” Committee member S4 suggested $3,000 as a compromise; the director said that level would mean doing less interlibrary loan service.

The committee also discussed travel and training; the director said the $300 already spent covered only a single staff attendee and requested a $5,000 training budget to allow broader staff participation in future conferences.

Chair (S1) and the director agreed on a set of updated line items (office supplies $2,000; technology $12,000; operating supplies $3,000; recreation $5,000; education $24,000; communications $3,000; publicity $25,000; utilities $25,000; maintenance $16,000; travel $5,500; depreciation transfer $1,000). The director committed to provide a revised worksheet reflecting those adjustments for the committee to review.

The committee did not take a formal vote during the session; members directed staff to update the budget documents and return with the revised totals and supporting notes.