Library vote in Shelter Island Saturday

Shelter Island voters will have to go to school Saturday to vote on their public library budget for 2012, because the basement of the public library — where votes are normally held — is inaccessible during construction work.

The proposed budget of $577,691 is almost 1 percent less than the current $583,100. But taxes will rise by 4.5 percent because of a drop in private contributions this year at the same time that insurance costs and other expenses are going up.

Library director Denise DiPaolo said a typical family living on Shelter Island would pay $4.50 a year more in taxes if the budget passes.

Voting will be in the library of the Shelter Island Elementary and High School from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.