Recently Asked Questions

Is it legal for a library board to approve expenditures (without a referendum) for a capital project from its operating funds (or operating fund balance) to bridge a shortfall in bond monies earmarked for the construction of a new building?

We are a small municipal library serving a village of 6500 & a town population the same size. Our village trustees have decided to take our balance from the 2022-2023 fiscal year & add to the village general fund. Does New York State Education Law #259 apply here? We were told it is just the Attorney General’s interpretation of the law & does not keep the balance in the library’s possession.

We have become aware that a recent law in New York shortened the statute of limitations to collect consumer debts.  Does this affect our library’s ability to enforce and collect library fines?

Can a school district library board mandate that trustees take a one-year break after two terms? It is our understanding that we cannot limit trustee terms, but our bylaws require a year break after serving two three-year terms. We aren't limiting the number of terms a trustee can serve.
Thank you for your input.

I am looking for general information on the possible impact of Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements on library tax levies. I believe that in some instances public libraries are parties to PILOT agreements. In other cases, library levies are stated or implied exceptions to PILOT agreements; and the company with the PILOT agreement pays the library levy like any other taxpayer; as a separate payment based on the property’s assessed value. Are there differences based on the type of public library? Or differences based on the taxing entity: special district, town or school district? Are there provisions in the legislation authorizing PILOT agreements or in Real Property Tax Law that impact library taxes and PILOT agreements?