Library’s 2026/27 Budget Brings Good News

By Kathy Savolt -

Touting their successes, the Board of the Mamaroneck Public Library released their 2026/27 budget to the public last month.  See budget HERE and presentation HERE. The Library’s fiscal year begins on June 1^st and the public vote on the budget is on December 10, 2025.

What’s In the Budget

Next year’s budget is 14.6% less than last year's budget.  It includes funding for all items defunded in 2023 during the Library’s fiscal crisis.  This includes a return of buying adult books, periodicals and recordings.  The budget also includes money to return to “a full staff complement,” funds for technology and a return of museum passes for borrowing when you want to visit a participating museum and save on admission fees.

As expected, staff-related expenses are the largest portion of the budget at almost 58% and debt service related to the library renovation and expansion is the second largest.  The bulk of the revenue is the library tax although the Library has stepped up their fundraising efforts.

What the Budget Doesn’t Include

The budget does NOT include any further borrowing for operating costs.  In fact, when the crisis was discovered in 2023, the Library expected to borrow funds to balance the budget for three years but only needed to borrow twice.

How Much Will It Cost?

The Library is asking the voters to approve a 4% increase in the Library tax which is $20/year for a home assessed at $775,000.  Your library tax is included on your Village of Mamaroneck tax bill.

Six Candidates Vie for Four Trustee Slots

Also on the December 10^th ballot is the election of Library Trustees.  There are six candidates and four open positions.  Current Board President Liliana Diaz-Pedrosa and former President and current Treasurer Ellen Hauptman are running for reelection. 

Current Trustee David Brown, who joined the Board this year is also a candidate as is Nada Glick who served on the Board in the late 1970s – early 1980s.  Newcomers Ben Browning and Daniela Martin round out the choices. 

See more information about each candidate HERE.

Voting is December 10^th from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Library.

Editor’s note: The Mamaroneck Observer covered the Library’s prior fiscal crisis extensively.  For a summary see HERE.