Proposed Florida library budget would restore Sunday hours

Library budget vote and election of two trustees set for May 16 Florida - The Florida Public Library annual budget vote and election of trustees has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 16, with the library propositions appearing on the Florida School District ballot. Voting will take place in the S.S. Seward Institute’s music room from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. A public hearing on the library budget will be held on Monday, May 1, at 7 p.m. before the regular monthly meeting at 7:30. The 2006-2007 budget proposal includes a tax levy of $254,605, which is a $5,000, or 2 percent, increase over the current year budget. School district voters approve this amount only. Tax support for the library has remained flat for the past two years due to the defeat of last year’s budget. The total proposed library budget of $338,105 represents growth of 4.8 percent. Passage of the budget will allow the restoration of Sunday hours. In addition to the budget, two trustee seats for five-year terms will be on the ballot. One seat is currently vacant due to the recent resignation of Leon Shorr. The second seat is filled by incumbent Kathleen Helhoski. Both terms run from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2011. Prospective candidates must be residents of the school district and 18 years of age. Petitions to secure a place on the ballot will be available on Friday, March 17, at the library or from the school district central office. Signed petitions must be returned to the latter by 5 p.m. on April 17. Interested candidates may contact library director Madelyn Folino at 651-7659 for more information. The Handbook for Library Trustees of New York State, which explains the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of trustees, is available at the library. “We encourage library supporters to step forward and get involved in the governance of the library,” said Folino. “Public libraries need all the help they can get from committed advocates.” New voters may register to vote on Thursday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 9, from 3 to 7 p.m. at S.S. Seward. To register for the general election, registration forms are available at the library, at the Orange County Board of Elections in Goshen, by calling 1-800-FOR-VOTE or online at www.elections.state.ny.us.