NORWAY – Library trustees made their case for a 2009 operating budget to the Budget Committee on Tuesday night, asking for $252,800. The $28,800 increase from this year does not include $11,900 that is expected to be requested to cover an overdraft.

Town Manager David Holt has recommended a total operating budget of $240,000.

Library trustees say the additional money includes $4,000 for staff salary increases, $2,600 for health insurance premiums, $4,400 for boiler repairs, $1,100 for higher property insurance, and $3,900 to replace two fuel oil tanks that are 20 years old and deteriorating. Additionally, $800 was assessed to the library for workers’ compensation.

Budget Committee members said most departments are only asking for slightly more than 2 percent increases.

Library Trustee Steve Veazey said most line items are the same as this year, but increases are included for unexpected expenses such as the furnace.

Trustees have agreed to look at that item and find ways to ward off that cost for another year.

Holt said he was concerned about the higher budget for 2009, but was hesitant to comment line by line because the trustees are an elected board and do not answer directly to him.

“I hoped they would have a smaller increase than they asked for,” Holt told the Budget Committee. “It’s not a good year for a big increase.”

Veazey agreed the budget was higher than they had hoped for, too.

“Shame on us, but we really underbudgeted fuel (costs),” said Veazey, who is the incoming treasurer for the trustees. The fiscal 2008 overrun must be approved by voters, and if it is not OK’d, Veazey said the library would probably have no alternative but to cut services.

Slightly more than 70 percent of the library’s budget is for personnel salaries and benefits for the five full-time and one part-time worker. The town picks up about 90 percent of the operating budget with other revenue coming from items such as user fines, grants, nonresident fees and fundraising.