Mattituck-Laurel Library voters easily pass $1.9M budget

Mattituck-Laurel Library taxpayers overwhelmingly approved a $1.88 million budget for 2027 Tuesday, increasing spending by 3.34% from the current year.

The budget passed, 119-38.

The total operating budget is $1,876,645, up from about $1.82 million this year. The library expects to collect $1,845,895 in property taxes to fund the spending plan.

For a property assessed at $7,000, library officials estimate the new budget will add about $14.80 to the annual tax bill.

Colleen Grattan-Arnoff, Lori Vicarelli Connolly and KaryKate Brigham were also elected as trustees. Their terms start in November.

“We are incredibly grateful for the community’s continued support of the library,” library director Shauna Scholl said. “This vote reflects the value our community places on the services, programs and resources we provide, as well as the dedication of our team who make that work possible every day.”

The library continues to see heavy use across its programs, collections and meeting spaces.

It had more than 48,000 visitors and issued 228 new library cards this past year, according to Ms. Scholl. That’s a slight decrease from the year prior, when the library saw 49,000 visitors and issued 277 new library cards.

More than 111,000 print and digital items were borrowed over the course of the year, with digital usage steadily growing.

The library also hosted 851 programs through its Adult Services, Youth and Parenting, and Teen departments, with nearly 16,000 attendees overall. Ms. Scholl said visitors also used library computers more than 3,100 times, and the library’s WiFi network saw over 5,200 guest sessions.

Ms. Scholl said the library has seen a major increase in room reservations as well. There were 929 in 2025, up from 607 in 2024. In 2023, there were just 439.

“I am tremendously proud of our team and deeply appreciate their continued commitment to serving our community” Ms. Scholl said.