Voters pass $1.5M Elwood library budget

The Elwood Public Library’s revised budget met with success on Tuesday, with a larger voter turnout approving the $1,566,766 spending plan 542 to 366.

The 2011-12 budget represents a 3.39 percent increase over the 2010-11 budget and increases the tax rate by 3.36 percent.

The budget freezes staff salaries and reduces the number of Sundays the library is open by a third.

The library put forward the revised budget proposal after its original proposal was nixed last month by voters. Library officials attributed much of the spending increase to higher costs of state retirement and health benefits.

Voter turnout was 908, compared with 361 at the original vote.