Respectfully Submitted, Board of Trustees, Bolivar Free Library
On May 20, 2025, residents of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School District will vote on the 2025-2026 school budget. Along with the budget, there will be decisions to be made on school board members, proposals to purchase school buses and other equipment, and proposals to support the libraries in our district.
One of the Bolivar Free Library’s goals has always been to encourage all interested parties to visit the library and use its facilities. That has been difficult in the past as the building was not accessible to those with disabilities. For the past several months, the library has undergone a makeover to meet the needs of our patrons, ensuring their accessibility both into and inside the building. To meet state and federal guidelines, an interior lift and exterior ramp were installed; these will help provide access to all floors in the library. The library Board of Trustees developed this project with the needs of all members of our community in mind.
Another part of the project involved the safety of the patrons. Exterior construction was completed on the front façade of the building to stabilize it for generations to come.
Due to a number of factors, including changes to the original project, availability of materials, and price increases, the library is asking for a larger-than-normal increase in the annual support voted on during the upcoming school budget vote. Several grants paid for the bulk of this project, but they did not provide enough support. In order to avoid placing undue financial hardships on the shoulders of our local taxpayers, the library also took out a bank loan as well as withdrew funds from its investments.
As a result, the Board of Trustees respectfully asks for your support for Proposition 4 – Bolivar Free Library Taxes: Shall the following resolution be adopted? RESOLVED, that the annual appropriation for the operation of the Bolivar Free Library, Bolivar, New York, a free association library, is hereby increased by $10,000.00 for a total of $71,500.00, and that the Board of Education of the Bolivar-Richburg Central School District (the “District”) is hereby authorized to levy and collect taxes in the District for payment thereof.
Thank you in advance for your support in our efforts to help the library meet the needs of the community.
