MARSHALL — The Marshall-Lyon County Library is asking Lyon County commissioners to consider a couple of different funding proposals for the library in 2023.

One of the proposals would allow the library to continue all of its current programs, said MLCL Director Michele Leininger. Another possible option would have smaller funding request for the county, but could also mean cuts to library outreach programs.

Commissioners said they’d consider the proposals during Lyon County’s budgeting process. But they also said they were concerned about the over 12% increase in salary expenditures included in the library’s draft budgets.

Leininger said the proposed salary increases would help catch the library up to pay scale recommendations from a compensation study done by the city of Marshall.

It’s still early in the budget process for MLCL, Leininger said Tuesday. The library will also be bringing draft budget and funding proposals to the city of Marshall later this month. MLCL receives funding from both the city and the county.

Leininger and MLCL Board President Linda Baun presented the draft 2023 budgets at Tuesday’s county board meeting.

“What we’ve given you are two budgets,” Leininger said.

One draft included a request for about $375,000 in county funding and $751,000 in city funding, which would be a 7.9% increase from 2022. That option would allow MLCL to maintain all the services it currently provides, Leininger said.

Another draft budget MLCL presented included requests for about $359,000 in county funding and $719,000 in city funding. That would be only a 3.3% increase from 2022.

“We do want to acknowledge you have other pressures,” in setting a county budget, Leininger told county commissioners.

However, the 3.3% funding increase wouldn’t be enough to maintain all current MLCL services, she said. That budget proposal would include cuts to the library’s outreach program.

Leininger said the outreach program currently delivers books and library materials to child care providers, senior living facilities and homebound residents in Marshall and Lyon County. She said library outreach currently serves 23 child care and preschool providers, with a total of 190 to 200 children. They also deliver library materials to around 60 people in senior facilities in Marshall and Balaton, and about 14 homebound library patrons.

“We would try to shift some of this (outreach) to volunteers,” Leininger said.

However, she said volunteer outreach might not be as reliable without library staffing to fill gaps.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, MLCL is also starting to see more people using its branch locations in Cottonwood and Balaton again, Leninger said.

Commissioner Charlie Sanow said he was concerned the budget with the 3.3% funding increase included a 12.5% increase in full time salary expenses at the same time as service cuts.

“I do have a problem with that,” Sanow said.

MLCL had been lagging behind pay level recommendations from a study conducted by the city of Marshall, Leininger said. The proposed increase would help address that. More competitive pay rates could also help MLCL find and keep qualified employees, she said.

Otherwise, she said, “We will lose people to other work.”

Personnel accounted for about 80% of the library’s expenses, Leininger said.

“Eighty percent is an awful high budget for personnel,” said Commissioner Rick Anderson.

Commissioner Steve Ritter said the board would consider the library’s proposals as the county goes through its budget process. Leininger said MLCL will also present its draft budgets to the city this month.