Manhattan-Elwood Library Board Adopts Annual Budget and Appropriation Ordinance

Article Summary: The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees has formally adopted its budget for the upcoming fiscal year following a public hearing. The approval of the combined Budget and Appropriation (B&A) ordinance legally establishes the library’s spending authority for the year.

Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Key Points:

• The board unanimously approved Ordinance 25-3, the combined annual Budget and Appropriation (B&A) ordinance.

• Trustees also adopted Resolution 25-1 to participate in the federal social security insurance program.

• The approvals took place during a special public hearing held on August 25, 2025, where no members of the public offered comment.

MANHATTAN, IL – The Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District Board of Trustees on Monday, August 25, 2025, formally approved its annual budget and appropriation ordinance, setting its financial plan for the fiscal year.

The board convened a special public hearing at 4:32 p.m., just prior to its regular monthly meeting, for the purpose of adopting the budget. With no public comment offered, the trustees proceeded with the business items. In a series of unanimous roll-call votes, the board approved Ordinance 25-3, the combined annual B&A ordinance which legally authorizes the library’s expenditures for the year.

As part of the same hearing, trustees also adopted two related resolutions. Resolution 25-1 affirms the library’s participation in the federal social security insurance program for its employees. Resolution 25-2 formally adopted the B&A ordinance.

The hearing was adjourned at 4:37 p.m., five minutes after it began, allowing the board to move immediately into its regular meeting. The swift and unanimous approval of the budget marks the culmination of the library’s annual financial planning process.

Board Meeting Briefs:

Community Survey Results Presented: Library Director Ashley Hopper presented the findings from a recent community survey to the Board of Trustees. While specific results were not detailed in the minutes, such surveys are used to gather patron feedback on library services, collections, and programming, which helps guide future planning and resource allocation.

Annual State Statistics Reported: The board was presented with the year-end statistics from the 2024-25 Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR). This comprehensive report, submitted to the state, summarizes the library’s operations, including circulation numbers, program attendance, and other key metrics that measure the library’s service to the community.

Board Comments: Dolly Parton Grant and Vaccine Clinic: During the closing portion of the meeting, a board member inquired about a Dolly Parton grant, likely referencing the singer’s Imagination Library literacy program that provides free books to children. It was also noted for public awareness that the Village of Elwood would be hosting a vaccine clinic at its village hall.