Dear Editor,
Bedford residents are being asked to approve a $2,628,845 library budget — a 47% increase over current funding.
This single referendum would add $840,000 in new annual taxes, enough by itself to break the town’s tax cap if it were part of the municipal budget. The Town of Bedford budget increase in 2025 was $814,088 for services for the the entire town.
Before voting “yes,” taxpayers should ask: Are library services more important than roads, police, and snow removal? More urgent than supporting seniors, parks, or public safety? This is only about the need for fiscal responsibility and transparency.
It took only 25 signatures to get this referendum on the ballot — less than 0.1% of Bedford’s population — and several of those were library board members or their families. Despite preparing for this for over a year, the libraries’ first public notice came only 12 days before the Sept. 18 meeting, leaving residents little time to learn or question the plan.
The Town of Bedford Board has failed in its duty to provide oversight of our tax dollars. The library boards have failed in their ability to work with the Town Board and provide services to the community that are within their means.
Transparency has been missing throughout. The boards have declined to release detailed 2024 operating budgets or the math behind the allocations to each library. When asked for audits, we were told none have been done despite receiving $1.7 million from taxpayers. Bedford Hills and Bedford Free Libraries post no financial information on their websites, although Katonah Village Library’s president offered to discuss public tax money in private. Why in private?
The libraries already hold $6.5 million in reserves (which equates to 3.5 years of operating costs) — yet they’re asking for another $840,000 this year alone, equal to 13% of those reserves. By comparison, Somers spends $55 per resident on library operations. Bedford’s three libraries spend $126 per resident — before this increase!
Since 2016, their budgets have increased an average of 3.3% annually, outpacing the state’s 2% tax cap. The libraries describe a wide range of programs and services — hardly the picture of an underfunded system.
This referendum creates a permanent tax increase and the town's tax cap will not be reduced if this is passed. Once approved, the tax increase will stay in place indefinitely and future increases will be easier to pass.
Supporters say "it’s only” a small amount per household. But “only” doesn’t apply when the starting point is already high — or for seniors, single parents and families struggling with rising costs.
More information and more transparency are needed before making such a long-term commitment. We urge every Bedford resident to review the library finances, attend meetings, and ask questions.
Until a more fiscally sound, transparent plan is offered — vote no on the Library Referendum.
-Bob and Mary Kehoe, Katonah
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