By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
It’s unlikely when the trustees of the Wood County gather in 2048 any of the people who were at Monday’s meeting will be in attendance.
Thanks to the projections put together by Library Director Michael Penrod, we do know what may be discussed. The long range maintenance schedule shows that the facility’s sloped metal roof will be due for replacement about then at a projected cost of $1.2 million.
While the library just acquired a new bookmobile, the schedule looks forward to when another will have to be purchased. The previous vehicle lasted 14 years. Penrod estimates this one should last about 15.
Over the course of next 30 years, the library can expect to spend about $6 million for maintenance, repairs, and replacements. That averages out to about $221,000 a year though the expenditures for specific years varies.
But that’s the money that will needed. So as the library has budget surpluses those get set aside capital projects.
When the bookmobile could no longer be repaired last year, the library had the $210,000 needed to replace it this spring.
When later in the meeting, the trustees were presented with the 2025 budget, Penrod proudly pointed to category 6900, debt service. For the last six years since the library paid off the debt for the major renovation and expansion of the Walbridge Branch, that’s been zero.
If repairs need to be made, the money is there.
“We are being good stewards of the people’s money,” said Trustee Brian Paskvan.
“I’m very proud we’re doing this,” said Ellen Dalton, the board’s vice president who was wielding the gavel for the meeting.
The budget for 2025 calls for spending $750,000 for capital projects The largest expense is $500,000 to build a maintenance and storage building, styled like a late 19th century carriage house, next to the Carter House.
Penrod said it’s possible some of the revenue from the pipeline could be used for that. He said his policy is not to depend on those dollars for ongoing expenses, since the company is still contesting the payments in court. So they are only spent on one-time expenditures.
The budget also appropriates $50,000 for roof and exterior maintenance for the Carter House itself.
The budget also funds elevator repairs, $74,000, furnishings, $65,000, and new carpet, $20,000.
The general operations budget is $3.5 million, 1% increase from last year’s spending.
Paskvan said it’s a tighter budget because of uncertainty about state funding. The Public Library Fund is budgeted to provide $1,750,000 in 2025 revenue. The local levy is budgeted to bring in $1,170,000. The remainder of the $3,944,000 in revenue comes from gifts, $227,000 and miscellaneous other sources, including cash on hand.
The payments from the Public Library Fund have been falling 4.5% behind what was projected.
“We’re going to hunker down and see how it goes,” said Paskvan.
Almost 60 percent of the budget is spent on personnel. The library employs 41 full- and part-time workers.
The library will spend 14 percent of its revenues on materials, just over $625,000. The national average is 10%.
“We think Wood County deserves better,” Penrod said.
Another $177,000 for books, paper and electronic, comes from gifts.
