Belgrade library reports doubling visits, outlines FY2027 budget shortfall and summer plans

City finance staff told the Belgrade Library Advisory Board on May 27 that the draft FY2027 library budget projects about $610,000 in revenue against roughly $845,000 in expected expenses, leaving the library reliant on general fund transfers and county support.

"Hi, I'm Charity Van Kirk. I'm the city's finance director," Charity Van Kirk told the board as she walked through the regular fund statement and explained how recent changes to tax-levy calculation will affect revenue. She said the levy formula is now a set dollar amount indexed to the three-year average rate of inflation (capped at 4 percent), which for this year yields a 2.97 percent increase — approximately $9,220.

Charity Van Kirk said tax revenue is estimated at about $320,000, intergovernmental/county support around $230,000, and a conservative $37,000 budgeted for donations; staff also plan a $613,000 transfer from the general fund and $39,000 from the permissive medical levy to balance operations. "Your tax revenue does not even cover the cost to run this building," she told the board, noting that about 80 percent of the library's expense budget is salaries and benefits.

Library staff also presented a year-in-review of services since the new facility opened, reporting a sharp rise in patron use: staff said the library recorded more than 124,000 visits in Jan–Dec 2025 and circulation of roughly 120,409 items last year. Program attendance totaled 15,515 participants over the year, and staff reported nearly 1,500 new library card signups since opening.

"We had over 15,000 visits in one month," staff said, and the board heard details about expanded hours (currently 36 hours a week) and initiatives to add low-vision tools, a braille children’s collection, expanded youth programming and partnerships with local organizations.

Programming staff previewed the summer learning challenge (June 12–Aug. 6), prize baskets donated by local businesses and a slate of events for adults, children and teens. Staff said the website refresh will go live in mid-June and that many of the Library of Things items and makerspace tools are already cataloged and being prepared for public use.

Board members asked several clarifying questions, including which population-size category the Montana State Library used to reset minimum weekly hours; staff said they would follow up by email with the precise cutoff. The board also discussed security, rotating local art displays and outreach staffing, including replacement planning for an outreach aide retiring in June.

The advisory board did not take final budget action; Charity Van Kirk emphasized that the draft is not final until the city council formally adopts the budget.