A Meeting of the Eisenhower Public Library District Board of Trustees Budget Committee July 15, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
The Budget Committee meeting was called to order at 6:34 P.M.
ROLL CALL
Present: Magnuson, Ross, Parent, Braun, Magnelli (6:39 P.M.), Ringelstein (6:54 P.M).
Absent: –
Also Present: Wittmann, Bacarella, Blubaugh, Tomzik (7:06 P.M.).
DECLARATION
Declaration by the Board President that a fully in-person meeting is not Practical or Prudent because of COVID.
BUDGET
Projected Revenues—
Director Wittmann discussed the projected revenues. She advised that in order to arrive at an estimate as to what the tax dollars should be since the final numbers are not in from the county yet, she took the last ten years’ worth of the revenue and found the average percentage extension over the previous year. The total she came up with was $4,020,626. When she gets the actual numbers, it could be higher or lower and she will have to revisit, but there is enough in the library fund to cover expenses. She reported that we received more Personal Property Replacement last year than expected. The interest rates dropped from last year. Operating income came in higher than expected even though we did not charge fines or replacement fees. We are receiving more Per Capita grant money this year.
Working Budget—
The committee discussed the proposed working budget and reviewed individual line items. Director Wittmann advised that she referenced the 2019 financial reports when working on the budget, which was the last year we were fully opened. She advised that this was the first time in fifteen years that we exceeded our book budget. This was partially because staff was working from home at the height of the pandemic. She does not expect staff to work at home that much this year. We also exceeded the Ebook budget by less than $1,000. Database access went over a bit due to the prepaids and she advised that she estimated it a bit higher to accommodate outstanding contracts. In the financial reports, the Per Capita Grant showed that we went over but this is only because we were able to roll over what we did not spend last year. Director Wittmann advised that we might have to revise the working budget once the county numbers come in. Trustee Parent felt that Automation Monthly fees account was not clear as to what it is and that we might want to come up with a more descriptive name. He recommended breaking the account into two different line items. Director Wittmann advised that she is still budgeting under 50% for salaries.
Tentative Budget and Appropriation—
The proposed Tentative Appropriation was reviewed. Director Wittmann advised that the numbers would change next month when we receive the numbers from Cook County. If the numbers do not come in from the County by August, the numbers paid by taxation will not be in the report.
Salary Schedule—
Director Wittmann advised that the State of Illinois minimum wage would be going up to $12/hr. effective January 1, 2022, $13/hr. effective January 1, 2023, and $14/hr. effective January 1, 2024. In 2019, the starting wage was $11/hr. at the library. Cook County issued their own minimum wage but because we are a District, we do not have to follow the county’s ordinance. She went over the original salary schedule with the Board. She reported that there is a lot of longevity in the staff. To reduce wage compression she broke group 7 into two groups. To accommodate employees who have been here for a long period, ten years or more, they are listed in group 7a. The employees that will have a bump up per the salary schedule will not receive a budged 3% merit salary increase. The employees who were not bumped up in the salary schedule could receive up to the budgeted 3% merit salary increase. Director Wittmann reported that after consulting with the attorney, employees whose salaries are capped in their position could still receive a merit raise annually. She also reported that there are Directors who budget prior to receiving the county numbers. She consulted with a few of them while preparing the budget.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Trustee Ross and seconded by Trustee Magnuson, to adjourn the Budget Committee Meeting. A roll call vote was taken and the results were as follows: AYES Magnelli, Magnuson, Ross, Ringelstein, Parent, Braun. NAYS None. ABSENT None. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:21 P.M.
