To voice your opinions or any feedback on the 2027 budget.

We're excited to do that.

Actually, last year was another library, so we're we're thrilled to be there.

Um and then I had one other announcement.

Oh, I just wanted to thank the budget department and all the wonderful staff work that's been going into this, our legislative reference bureau, com troller, and then our staff assistant, Mr.

Chris Lee, um, that keeps things going on.

And I didn't forget about our friends on channel 25 that helps broadcast this so people can uh be sure that they see what's going on with their own money and investments as I like to call them.

So with that, we'll now begin with the Milwaukee Public Library.

We'll go to Nathaniel here for the quick presentation on the budget and then the slides.

Um and just a reminder, I'm sure you've seen we continue to want to maximize committee questions.

And by the way, I think it's going excellent.

Everyone has been doing wonderful.

We've been really getting.

I mean, yesterday we must have got it would have been cool if somebody was keeping track, but it felt like we got hundreds of questions in.

Um so I think this flow is working out nicely.

So with that, we'll go to budget director Nick Kovac.

Before that, I want to recognize Alderman Mark Chambers Jr.

for being here.

Alder Woman Larisa Taylor, Alder Woman, Andrea Pratt.

Um, I think we got everybody.

Director

Kovac,

please.

Thank you, Madam Chair, committee members.

Good afternoon, Nick Kovac, Director of the Budget and Management Division.

Uh Nathaniel Hack will take you through the uh budget slides for the library before introducing the MPL team.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair, all the people in Nathaniel Hack, budget management division here to present the 2027 proposed budget for Milwaukee Public Library.

As a broad overview, the library's budget is increasing roughly one and a half million dollars or 4.4% increase over 2026.

And we'll discuss the drivers of that increase in the upcoming slides.

Over half of the department's budget increase is in salaries.

This is driven by a few changes to the budget.

Um for starters, as you know, there was a three percent increase in general city salaries plus a one percent increase in residency pay.

Um, more substantively, the Office of Childhood Initiatives is moving from the Department of Administration to the library's outreach team.

Um, and two circulation positions were eliminated as a reduction of drive up services, and various position changes were enacted to support continued Sunday services.

Um the library has a clear sense of its staffing needs to maintain services seven days a

week.

The

library's operating budget increased over 200,000 dollars.

Um, this increase will provide support for some needed HVAC repairs, website redevelopment, and general inflationary impacts to goods and services.

The equipment budget is decreased slightly, mostly to account for anticipated foundation support of Wi-Fi hotspot circulation.

There are two new special funds in the library's account.

The first is for security upgrades.

This was supported through the capital budget in 2026, but it's being moved to cash financing through the operating budget in 2027 at the same level as 2026, just moving from the capital budget to the operating budget.

Um

the second is moving the special fund for early childhood initiatives for the department of administration to the library.

The

proposed budget includes eliminating drive-up circulation services at central um for checking out materials.

But the drive-through window will remain open for material returns, other than anticipated temporary closure for some capital repairs.

And the proposed budget returns Sunday service to Central plus two branches, as well as adjusting the hours on Sunday services from the current to one to five p.m.

As mentioned earlier, the budget shifts the Department of Administration's Office of Early Childhood Initiatives into the library.

Um we believe that this shift will help better align city activities and early childhood development and serve as an impact multiplier by integrating existing services, support structures, and organizational leadership.

We do

anticipate an increase of the library's revenues by 6.4%.

This is primarily due to an increased payment for services they provide to the Milky County Federated Library System.

On

the capital side, the capital budget includes one million dollars for repairs at Central Library to replace a damaged deck that is causing leaking into the stacks during significant rain events, as well as two million dollars to begin architecture and construction of a new branch at Midtown.

As I mentioned earlier, security and IT needs that were previously in the capital budget have now shifted to a special fund at the library's operating budget, but it continues to be funded at the same level as in 2026.

The

library is a public-facing institution, so its public services and outreach comprise the biggest portions of its budget annually.

All other services, such as administration, IT services, collections, and facility management all go to support those public-facing services that the library provides.