Mahopac School District voters overwhelmingly approved the Mahopac Public Library’s proposed 2026-27 budget on June 2, while also electing three members to the library’s Board of Trustees. The budget passed by a vote of 330-72, according to results released by the library.
The 2026-27 budget totals $3.13 million, an increase of about $129,000 (4.3 percent) over the current year. The largest increases were in personnel costs, with salaries rising by $50,000 and payroll taxes and benefits increasing by $75,000. Spending on library materials will increase by more than $18,000, while utilities are projected to rise by $13,000. Professional fees also increase by $10,000.
The budget offsets some of those increases through reductions in several areas, including building repairs and maintenance, furniture and equipment purchases, capital improvements, and debt service. The library expects to receive about $22,000 more in non-tax revenues, largely from higher interest earnings and increased support from the town of Carmel and Putnam County. The remaining funding will come from a proposed property tax levy of $2.92 million, an increase of approximately $106,500, or 3.8 percent, over the current budget.
Library officials said that although the budget includes the first increase to the tax levy (the total amount collected by taxes) since 2020, it remains below the state tax cap. Library Director Michele Capozzella and the Board of Trustees said they worked to limit the increase while addressing rising operational costs.
Voters also elected Eugene Boesch, Annysa Polanco and Diane Travis to the three available seats on the board. Mary Killean Zayani finished fourth.
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