NORWAY – Norway Memorial Library trustees told the town Budget Committee on Thursday night that they lowered their fiscal 2009-10 budget so there is no increase from this year.

Treasurer Steve Veazey said trustees recognized that taxpayers were not willing to increase their financial support this year and therefore amended an earlier recommendation of $244,000 to $239,000.

“We’re trying to do more this year with the revenues we had last year,” Veazey said.

The move puts the library budget in line with most other town departments, which agreed to no increases in the coming year. Only the police union has asked for a pay raise.

“As it stands, that group of people got a 3 percent increase,” Town Manager David Holt said. “The whole thing has been a difficult thing all around. I’ve been struggling to meet the LD1 (tax levy limit) requirements.”

Holt commended the trustees for a budget with no increase.

“I appreciate your cooperation and recognition of last year’s budget,” he said.

Included in the coming year’s budget are reductions from last year of:

• $1,300 for heat because trustees locked into a contract along with the town for $2.04 a gallon for oil.

• $3,400 for maintenance and repairs because a furnace was replaced.

• $500 for purchase of books.

Amounts that went up include:

• $300 for downloadable audio purchases.

• $1,150 for Minerva delivery and license fees. Library officials said the service, which allows library patrons to borrow books from libraries across the state, is hiking its fees on July 1. Officials said the use of Minerva cuts down on the amount of books purchased.

Trustee President Hilary Ware amid the economic situation there is some good news for the library: Circulation and use of computers are up 15 to 20 percent.

Although Budget Committee member Ed Smith questioned if the library could reduce some staff hours, Veazey said all library employees now work only 35 hours and do not have overtime. If hours were reduced, services would probably have to be reduced, he said.