Voters say yes to library budget

Warwick — Voters in the Warwick Valley School District gave the thumbs up on Tuesday to the $753,615 tax levy for the Albert Wisner Public Library. Not a great day weather-wise, Tuesday’s chilly, damp, and overcast weather did not deter 578 voters from casting their votes. The result was greater than 3 to 1 in favor of the budget, with 443 voting for it and 135 against. Dr. Wayne Rossi, the board trustee who ran unopposed, garnered 572 votes to win the five-year term. Rosemary Cooper, the library director, was pleased with the vote. “Yes, I am delighted,” said Cooper “I am in such awe of the volatile nature of the democratic process and am always re-energized by the positive expression of public sentiment for libraries in the midst of it all.” The budget is an increase of $36,850 over last year’s amount. That means Warwick residents in the school district will pay an additional 10 cents per $1,000 of assessed value or $2.04 per $1,000. For Chester residents the increase is three cents per $1,000 for a total of $.51 per $1,000 of assessed value. Warwick’s assessment rate is about one quarter of full value while Chester’s is at full value. A homeowner whose house is valued at $400,000 in either Warwick or Chester will pay $204 for the library tax. This year’s budget included salary increases of about 3.25 percent and no new salaried positions. Budgeting for fuel and utilities jumped more than $2,000. The Albert Wisner Public Library is a school district library but receives no funding from the school district itself.