To the Editor:

In 2006, with a budget of $214,000.00, The Potsdam Public library asked taxpayers for a 46% increase in their current operating budget and to become a school district library. This was approved by voters in the Potsdam Central School District. The library told the public that it would not have to increase this budget for years to come. It started increasing the budget yearly in 2012 when the NY State Office of the State Comptroller instilled a 2% tax cap on all taxing jurisdictions. In the first 10 years that the library became a district, it increased its funding 142%.

This year the library has been very quiet about the increase. They did not post the tentative budget on the website, and due to Co-Vid, the library was closed 3 days before (and including) the day of the public hearing. The 2021-‘22 “budget” that is posted is lacking in transparency and information. Only revenues are listed. Paid, individual salaries should be listed, supplies, utilities and benefits including disability, hospitalization, longevity and retirement should all be broken down for the tax payer to peruse, and the public should know how much money is in fund balance.

The library was closed for most of 2021. For several weeks only 10 people could be in the building at once, and others needed to make appointments. They did not hold a budget vote last June because they have the privilege of not being required to hold one if they do not raise their budget. Why wasn’t the budget lowered in 2021?

Has the library tried to secure alternate funding? There are many Payments In Lieu Of Tax agreements in the Town and Village that the Potsdam Library should have been included in. The only actual PILOT the library is part of is the C-P Hospital. By not actively pursuing PILOT’s, these companies are actually not paying anything to the library, and their share is passed on to the taxpayer.

Historically there will be around 100 voters on June 15 this year. The library should hold their vote concurrent with the Potsdam Central budget vote. There is ample parking and reminders. It is a travesty the library can legally place (hide?) its bill onto the Potsdam Central tax bill, yet doesn’t hold a vote at the same time. This district library vote has never failed. If you do vote on June 15th for the $594,769 budget, remember that the Potsdam Central School District Library budget has increased $380,769 in 17 years. That’s 178%.

Peggy Brusso
Potsdam