Residents React to Library Budget at Hearing

The Syosset Library Board of Trustees held a “meet the candidates” session and public hearing of at the Syosset Public Library on Tuesday night in preparation for district elections next week. 

Unopposed incumbent trustee Reid Goldsmith, the singular candidate, will secure his fourth term this May. Goldsmith began working at the library as a page in 1971 and moved up the ranks through high school and college until he was elected to the board in 1996. 

“I love giving back to the community and the library," Goldsmith said. "This is my home away from home."

In his fifteen years serving, Goldsmith said the current board is one of the most fiscally responsible he has ever seen. 

Residents attending the meeting, however, had a hard time reconciling the fiscal responsibility of a $293,388 increase in the proposed $6.5 million budget since last year. 

Mark Maslin of Woodbury noted the bulge in spending on employee salaries and administration costs—up $237,348 from 2010 and over 65 percent of the total budget at $4.23 million—and asked why, in a recession, the library has not cut its 78-strong full and part-time staff. 

Executive Director Karen Liebman responded that the library has implemented a hiring freeze and needs to maintain its current employee level to staff the library during 72 open hours per week. Liebman said factors such as hikes in New York State retirement, health care costs, and taxes are out of the library’s control and, had they remained static, the budget increase would be a mere .09 percent.

All things considered, Liebman said $200 to $300 a year on average is not a lot to pay in taxes for the second highest circulating library in Nassau that holds programs which pack the house.

“This library is used tremendously and I think it’s become a haven for people who are out of work," Liebman said. "This is a place where people can come to save money. If you utilize all the library offers you can save quite a bit of money in a year and make up for the taxes you paid."

The annual budget vote and district elections will take place on Tuesday, May 17 from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Syosset School District elementary schools.  Residents can register to vote at the South Grove Annex on Friday, April 8 and Thursday, April 14 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. For questions regarding your polling place, call the district clerk at 516-364-5669.