The Sumner County Library Board Budget Committee on Friday voted to forward each branch budget to the full county board while asking directors to provide follow-up details on staff pay requests, a countywide Comcast contract and several capital items.

Committee members — Joanna (committee member), Mike Bridal (committee member) and Pam Teller (committee member) — met with directors and staff to review each branch worksheet. Members voted to send Millersville, Portland, Gallatin, Hendersonville and Clayton budgets to the full board with clarifying questions; motions to forward each budget passed by voice vote.

Why it matters: The committee’s requests focus on items likely to affect the county’s final appropriation and on items that would increase ongoing county costs — notably proposed salary increases, new full-time positions, recurring transfers and capital outlays that may require separate approval or outside contracting.

Millersville: director Amy Nguyen outlined the branch’s request for higher staff pay, two potential full‑time positions and an increase in materials spending. Amy Nguyen, Millersville library director, told the committee she based a requested electricity increase on a three‑year average and that book costs have risen compared with the library’s early purchases: “If the trend continues…this would equate to about what I spend now,” she said. Committee members told Nguyen they did not expect a 20% staff raise to be approved and said even a single‑digit cost‑of‑living adjustment would be difficult without further justification.

The Millersville review also flagged a countywide Comcast/cable contract that currently groups multiple branches’ accounts in a single invoice; committee members asked staff to obtain the full annual billing and contract documents so the county can assess whether library locations can be removed from or renegotiated within the larger county agreement. Millersville requested an estimated $8,000–$10,000 in capital funds to replace computers that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11; the committee asked for an explanatory memo and vendor/specification details for the capital worksheet.

Portland: Portland’s budget showed only modest increases — a 3% salary adjustment and small line‑item shifts — and the committee approved forwarding the budget with no major objections. The Portland director said recent transfers were limited this fiscal year and that a requested AED and some children’s safety devices are budgeted under health equipment.

Gallatin: Gallatin’s worksheet included a larger capital request — roughly $50,000–$53,000 — for facade repairs, painting and an HVAC review. Committee members asked staff to verify HVAC maintenance records (finance noted the system has not been inspected since 2011) and to supply written cost explanations for facade repair and any planned flooring work. The committee advanced Gallatin’s budget to the full board with those clarifying requests.

Hendersonville: Hendersonville’s submission showed a sizable operational increase driven in part by data‑processing and other consolidated IT/comms costs. Committee members flagged a $32,000 data‑processing line, a $5,500 furniture/fixtures request and a $38,000 operational increase that needs itemized explanation. The director is seeking one additional full‑time staffer (and a second if Friday hours are approved). The committee advanced Hendersonville’s budget contingent on clarifications of the data processing line, the furniture request, and any capital or one‑time items.

Clayton and Westmoreland: Committee members noted Clayton’s budget was already approved earlier in the review and that Westmoreland and other branches have friends groups that sometimes cover program costs. Across branches the committee encouraged directors to seek donations or friends‑group support for program supplies and one‑time needs, while noting such donations cannot be relied on to replace core operating funds.

Actions and follow‑up directions
- The committee directed staff and directors to provide written clarifications for line items that were unclear (Comcast contract terms and annual billing by branch; data processing detail for Hendersonville; capital cost breakdowns and vendor quotes for computer replacements and Gallatin facade/HVAC work).
- Committee members asked directors to coordinate with county finance before the full board presentation so finance can confirm benefit/insurance impacts of staffing changes and whether transfers historically masked recurring costs.

Votes at a glance
- Millersville budget: motion to forward to full board with clarifying questions — approved (voice vote).
- Portland budget: motion to forward to full board — approved (voice vote).
- Gallatin budget: motion to forward to full board with clarifying questions — approved (voice vote).
- Hendersonville budget: motion to forward to full board with clarifying questions — approved (voice vote).
- Clayton budget: previously approved in the committee review and noted as forwarded.

What the committee asked for next: memos explaining proposed capital purchases, itemized IT/data‑processing charges, the full Comcast/cable/Internet contract and the annual combined invoice (broken out by branch), and confirmation from finance on how new hires and insurance will be covered if payroll lines are short. Directors were asked to email requested backup documents to the committee before the packet goes to the full board.

The committee chair closed the meeting after completing the reviews and motions; the full Board will consider the branch budgets once the requested clarifications are returned and included in the packet.