414 Vote for Library Funding

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 414 Vote?

New York State libraries can use Chapter 414 of the NYS Education Law to ask voters to approve funding for their library through a public referendum. This is commonly called a “414 vote.”

To begin the process, the Library Board of Trustees petitions voters to place a funding referendum on the ballot. Once the required number of signatures has been collected, the referendum is submitted to the Board of Elections for inclusion on the General Election ballot.

In 2026, the Olive Free Library is asking Town of Olive voters to approve an increase of $8,110 in annual funding—from $289,642 to $297,752. This is a 2.8% increase.

How is the Olive Free Library currently funded?

Olive taxpayers provide the majority of the library’s funding. Additional support comes from the Olive Free Library Endowment, grants secured by library staff, and fundraising activities organized by our hardworking Friends Group.

The Library Board of Trustees is responsible for carefully managing these resources. Our goal is to maintain reliable funding that supports library programs, staff, and building maintenance while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

When and where will I vote?

The vote will take place during the General Election on November 3, 2026. Early Voting will take place from October 24 through November 1, 2026.

On Election Day, you can vote at your regular polling place. During Early Voting, you will need to vote at one of the designated early voting locations in the county. The library funding question will appear on the back of the ballot and will read:

SHALL THE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE TOWN OF OLIVE FOR THE OPERATING BUDGET OF THE OLIVE FREE LIBRARY ASSOCIATION BE INCREASED FROM $289,642 ANNUALLY TO $297,752 ANNUALLY?

How much will this cost taxpayers?

The proposed increase would cost approximately $0.43 per $100,000 of assessed property value.

For example:

Assessed Property Value

$200,000

$300,000

$400,000

$500,000

$600,000

How will the additional funding be used?

The proposed increase is intended to help the library keep pace with rising costs while maintaining the services our community relies on.

Supporting our staff is a top priority. We want to retain our dedicated employees and offer salaries that remain competitive with other libraries in the Mid-Hudson Library System.

At the same time, the cost of operating the library continues to rise. Utilities, electronic media, technology, and other support services are becoming more expensive.

Rather than waiting and requesting larger increases when costs rise significantly, the Board of Trustees would like to establish a more predictable approach of seeking small annual increases as needed.

This approach allows the library to plan responsibly, maintain staffing and services, and avoid larger increases whenever possible.

How do other towns fund their libraries?

Libraries throughout the Mid-Hudson Library System (MHLS) receive public funding in a variety of ways.

Some libraries are Municipal or Special District libraries and are fully supported through property taxes. Others, including the Olive Free Library, are Association libraries.

Association libraries can seek dedicated taxpayer funding through a Chapter 414 referendum approved by voters.

What happens if the library funding vote fails?

If voters do not approve the proposed increase, the Board of Trustees will need to reassess its plans and priorities.

This may limit our ability to maintain competitive staff salaries and keep up with expenses. If grants, gifts, and donations do not make up the difference, the Board may also need to consider reducing services or making cuts elsewhere in the budget.

Why does this funding matter?

The Olive Free Library is an important community resource. Reliable, predictable funding helps us maintain the staff, programs, collections, technology, and facilities that our community depends on.

The proposed increase is intended to provide a modest, sustainable increase in funding so that the library can continue serving the community while planning responsibly for the future.

Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Olive Free Library and how it is funded.

All costs associated with this webpage have been paid for by the Friends of the Olive Free Library.