NORWICH – On May 17, city voters will have a chance to weigh-in on Guernsey Memorial Library’s proposed 2011-2012 budget, included on the ballot with the Norwich City School District budget. At $1,055,422, the tentative budget calls for a .95 percent tax levy increase to address a 2.9 percent increase in spending as compared to 2010-2011.

Due to the current economic climate in Chenango County and New York, President Kathy Darrah said the library’s board of trustees worked hard to keep expenses at a minimum while minimizing any impact on services.

Darrah said the downtown library continues to see increases in both contractual pay and state retirement costs – a $15,645 increase in the proposed budget – as well as rising supply costs. The 2011-2012 budget would see a total increase of $29,696 compared to last year, she added.

“Generally speaking, we don’t want to negatively impact our patrons while we try to make cutbacks,” said Darrah. “We’ve been able to take advantage of a number of grants in 2011 and we’re working toward further grants in 2012 to help supplement the revenue side of the budget.”

Rather than reduce library hours or cut staff – the kind of changes that would have a direct impact on patrons – Darrah said the board looked for other areas with less impact on the services provided at Guernsey, such as utilities, supplies and materials.

Some notable expenditure increases in the tentative budget include payroll, up $19,864; contracted services, up $4,000; repair contracts and insurance, up $1,116; retirement costs, up $15,645; Social Security, up $1,520; and combined unemployment, health and dental insurance, up $16,358.