This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Ela Library Board OKs Working $6.9M Budget

The library board approved spending $393,000 on replacing outdated audio-visual equipment and adding two new media labs.

The has approved a working budget for fiscal 2012 that reflects just more than $6.5 million in revenue, up $97,679 from last year.

An estimated $6.9 million is budgeted for expenditures for the fiscal year, up $266,135 from last year.

Executive Director Mary Beth Campe explained that the library's $6.8 million in reserve funds are like the library’s “savings,” $393,000 of which will be used to upgrade the 10-year-old audio/visual equipment and add two new state-of-the-art media labs.

Find out what's happening in Lake Zurichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“There is no other place in the district where patrons have access to the kind of technology that will be installed. We have plans to market this new service to businesses, students and basically anyone who wants to get creative with technology,” said Campe.

The two media labs will offer the latest in sound, audio and digital equipment for patrons. They’ll be able to mix together music, create video using a green screen, convert analog video to digital formats, conduct video-conferences, and much more.

Find out what's happening in Lake Zurichwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is going to make a big splash,” said Warren Dawkins, the ’s IT systems administrator.

Bids for the project will go out in July, with an anticipated one- to two-week installation process to start in early fall.

The reserve funds are also available to use for emergency repairs and other capital expenses, Campe said.

The largest of the library's funds, the general fund, is up $261,275 from last year, with expenditures up $204,173 due to an increase in health insurance and a request made by library board members to raise employee salaries from a suggested 3 percent increase to a 3.5 percent increase.

The site and building fund is down $45,643 in revenues and down $26,825 in expenditures from last year.

“The budget is very healthy. We are able to fund all ongoing projects and services while maintaining the building and current staffing levels,” said Campe.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Lake Zurich