MONTICELLO – The Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library’s annual budget vote will be held on Wednesday, October 14, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Voting will take place at the Ethelbert B. Crawford Public Library in Monticello. All registered voters of the library district in the Towns of Thompson, Bethel, and Forestburgh residing within the Monticello Central School District are eligible to vote in this election.  Absentee ballots are available to eligible voters by calling the election clerk at (845)794-4660 x6 to request an application.

The proposed 2027 Library Budget is $1,933,271, which includes $353,338 in previously approved capital debt service repayment. This represents a 7.48% increase ($134,474) over the 2026 budget. Most of this increase is driven by rising costs in three areas. Health insurance premiums for Library staff are projected to increase by $53,500, from $188,000 to $241,500 (28.5%). Heating fuel and utility costs, including electricity, are projected to increase by $16,650, from $29,500 to $46,150 (56.4%). Maintaining the Library’s 11-year-old building and grounds, including custodial service, repairs, and grounds maintenance, are projected to cost $140,000, an increase of $26,750 (23.6%). Together, these three areas account for $96,900, or 72%, of the total budget increase. Mandated contributions to the New York State Local Retirement System are projected to increase by $12,400.

The Library will apply $109,000 from its fund balance and capital fund toward the 2027 budget, down from $195,000 in 2026. For several years, the Library has used these reserves to keep tax increases low. As those reserves decline, the Library is reducing its reliance on them; this change accounts for $86,000 of the tax levy increase.

The 2027 tax levy will be $1,783,771, an increase of 14.10% ($220,474), which exceeds the Library’s allowable tax cap of 2.82%. For a home assessed at $100,000, this is an increase of approximately $12 per year.

Copies of the 2027 budget are available at the library or on the library website: ebcpl.org.

Four seats on the library board are up for election.  Emily Zier and Ciera Moore have submitted petitions for 1-year terms; Lois Berkowitz has submitted a petition for a 3-year term.