Library Finances | Claverack Free Library

Have you ever wondered why the Claverack Free Library asks for donations?

You may be surprised by how little of your local taxes go toward funding library operations. The Claverack Library is an association library; it must raise a significant portion of the annual budget from sources other than the government.

From the Town of Claverack’s 2022 adopted budget of $3,229,918, the Claverack Library receives $73,500. That makes up 2.3% of budgeted town taxes. Any increase in funding from the Town must be approved by public vote.

Additionally, in 2022 the library will receive approximately $3,000 from Columbia County, $1,250 from the State of New York, and $1,000 from the Town of Taghkanic.

This brings the total revenue from taxes for the Claverack Library to $78,750. And it places the library at the lowest level of local tax funding per capita of all the libraries in Columbia County.

With the Library’s 2022 operating budget set at $197,435, total tax receipts offset only 39.9% of the annual costs. The difference of $118,685 must be raised through grants, fund raising events, and the generosity of residents and area businesses.

Since October 2019, when the library moved into its new building – free of debt and expending no local tax money – operating costs have risen. With the addition of two new and expanded part-time jobs since, the 2022 operating budget includes salary-related increases, as well as additional operating expenses for utilities and maintenance impacted by post-pandemic inflation.

Today, every donation goes directly to the library’s operating budget to assure that it continues to serve our community well into the future.

Thank you for your generous support.