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Budgets and Financial Reporting for the New Library Director
Adapted from a presentation originally prepared by:Mary Martin, Parsippany-Troy Hills LibraryBetsy Kanouse, Denville Public Library
February 2015
Kathy Schalk-Greene, Mount Laurel Library
Plan for and prepare next year’s budget
Monitor spending through monthly financial reports
End of Year Evaluation / Annual Audit
The Unending Financial Cycle
As a new director…
You may start your job at any time in this cycle
First find out what “past practice” has been– Review last year’s audit report for numbers and
recommendations– Ask treasurer and/or bookkeeper to explain how your
library handles things
If it ain’t broke, don’t rush to fix it right away
Who manages your money?
Some municipalities pay the bills for their libraries.– Towns must fund their municipal library at 1/3 mil– Your Board (not you) should ask the town for an
accounting of what has been spent each month– Your Board should approve all bills each month
If your municipal library pays its own bills:– The town must make a payment to you (part or all
of the 1/3 mil) by March 31 -- even if they haven’t passed their budget
The Budgeting Process
The budgeting timeline
Different libraries have different fiscal years.
Different libraries use different timelines. There is no one right way.
Make things easier on yourself; follow past practice for your library at least for your first year on the job.
The Budgeting Process: Ask for input from staff
Special projects/needs, e.g.:– Implement time/print management software– Computer replacement plan– Start a special collection/service (makerspace, etc.)
You may not be able to afford to do everything now, but it’s good to have a wish list
Grants or unanticipated gifts may become available; you want to be ready to take advantage of them
Some numbers you need – ANTICIPATED INCOME
How much income do you expect to receive?– If you are a municipal library, the municipal
appropriation is announced in October– Fines– Interest from savings accounts/CDs– Gifts– Other?
Some numbers you need – FIXED & KNOWN EXPENSES
Salary, payroll taxes, pension costs, health benefits Chargebacks from town (if any) Service contracts (HVAC, cleaning, audit,
alarm & fire monitoring, etc) Utilities Consortium / shared service expenses Telecom / Internet connectivity Other?
How do you estimate these numbers?
Look at your financial reports and audits from the previous year or two.– Has spending increased? – Decreased? – Stayed the same?
If you are in a multi-year contract (e.g. HVAC maintenance) you should know / can ask what the yearly cost is.
How do you estimate these numbers?
Make a call! Ask vendors for an estimate. Ask for discounts!
Keep your ears open. – Are pundits predicting an increase in gas costs? You
may need to increase your utilities budget line.
– What percentage increase in PERS payments are municipalities anticipating?
What’s left over? Start filling in other costs:
Collection and materials Programming Library & office supplies Postage Other?
Put the numbers together and voila! A budget!
Your anticipated income should balance with your anticipated expenses.
If your anticipated expenses are higher than your anticipated income, you need to trim your expenses.– Where from?
Do you have more income than anticipated expenses?
Consider yourself lucky!
Review your wish list
Create or add to a restricted capital maintenance or capital improvement fund
Other?
Presenting the budget to the Board (and possibly the Town)
Give them the budget, but not your entire budget calculation worksheet (Too Much Information !)
Have your budget calculation worksheet available to refer to if you are questioned; be prepared to explain how you came up with your numbers
Ask for help from your treasurer and/or finance committee prior to the presentation – they can, and should, help you prepare!
Monthly Financial Reports
Useful monthly reports
Expenditures to date vs budgeted expenses (aka budget control report)
Profit & Loss statement
Bill list
Expenses To Date vs Budget (aka Budget Control Report – are you on target or over budget?)
Profit & LossWhat did you bring in this month/year? What did you expend?
Bill list What bills need to be paid this month?
Expense vs budget reports (for staff)
Keep staff informed of how much they have spent versus their budget YTD (year to date)
But wait! There’s more!
What monthly financial reports is your library currently producing for your board meetings?
Remember the “past practice” guideline. If it’s working okay, you don’t have to change it right away (or at all).
The Capital Budget
Your capital budget
Allows you to plan for big projects: roof, carpeting, HVAC, integrated library system
Consider setting aside a portion of the operations budget towards future capital expenses.
Reserve capital funds with a board resolution
Planning for multiple years
Capital budget: Schedule
Capital budget: Resolution
The Audit Process
Your yearly audit
If you are paying for your audit, even if it is the same auditor as the town, you should request a proposal that includes the cost of the audit and what services will be included.
You can negotiate with auditors just as with other vendors. Auditors charge wildly different amounts for the same basic product. Ask around – what are other libraries paying?
Preparing for the Audit
All municipal libraries must be audited each year. There is no mandated time frame but it’s a good idea to get it done within the first 6 months.
Your bookkeeper/treasurer may already have a process for handling the audit in place. If so, GREAT!
Preparing for the Audit
Ask for help from your treasurer and/or bookkeeper in preparing for the audit.
There are certain things you know you’ll need each year.
Deciphering your Audit Report
Ask the auditor to sit down with you and your treasurer to review the audit. Remember: you are their paying customer!
If the auditor has any recommendations for change:– Ask questions. How many other public libraries
does your firm audit? Of those, how many have this procedure in place?
Wrapping it Up
When in doubt, ASK
Do you still have questions? (Of course you do!)
Contact your auditor (anytime throughout the year) or accountant (if you have one)
Contact the State Library for guidance
Send a shout-out to one of the library listservs. You are not alone.
Additional Resources: Giveback of Funds (Municipal libraries)
Return of Excess Funds Law (NJSA 40:54-15) was passed in 2010
Beware of excess operating reserve funds
For more info, contact the State Library
More additional resources
The state-mandated 1/3 mil municipal appropriation is posted each October
NJ Library Laws can be found here: http://lss.njstatelib.org/library_lawPart 6, purchasing, includes info on Pay to Play; Part 7 includes the Local Fiscal Affairs Law (audit info & more);
Still more additional resources
Your town’s Chief Financial Officer can be a great resource – but not unless you ask for help.
NJ laws governing municipal fiscal administration: NJ Department of Community Affairs,Local Government Services,http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dlgs/about/
