A referendum intended to replace $72,000 in funding from the school district is likely to bring in only $65,000.

"We have to leave an allowance for uncollectibles," said Coplay Library bookkeeper Teri Halderman, who prepared financial projections for the next two years and presented them at the June 13 library board meeting.

In May, voters approved a 0.38 mill real estate tax to support the library. It was intended to replace the $72,000 annually the Whitehall-Coplay School District had been providing to the library until June 2012.

In order to be realistic, Halderman forecast the referendum will bring in about $7,000 less than the amount it was intended to replace.

Delinquent tax bills are turned over to a collection agency, which takes a percentage of whatever it collects, said Coplay Borough Councilman Joseph Groller, who attended the meeting as council's library liaison.

When asked how much the library could expect to get from collections, he said, "That's hard to say."

Real estate tax collections can drag out several years and then result only in a lien against the property. The amount due is not collected until the property is sold to satisfy the lien, and that could be 20 years or more, he said.

The school district agreed to provide $48,000 as a "one-time, wind-down funding" for the 2012-13 school year. In May, the district made its final $4,000 payment to the library.

"They're paid in full for what they said they would give us," said Halderman.

Although short funding from the school district, the library will be able to make ends meet with cash reserves, she said.

That cash will be depleted over time without an annual $16,500 contribution from the borough, however.

"So the magic ball is put back on the borough," Halderman said.

"I was thinking the tax was going to take care of it all," said new board member Janet Eisenhauer.

Halderman said the referendum money replaces only the school board's previous contribution.

"And that information was made public," said library board President Michele Gruber.

Halderman said she hopes the borough will consider giving the library the same funding as before.

Turning to Groller, she said, "Joe, you know far ahead enough that we want $16,500 next year."

Groller said the borough asks department heads to submit budget requests in October.

Library board Secretary Jane Gillespie asked if the borough would be able to help out in additional ways, such as paying the electric bill for the library building, which the borough actually owns.

"In the whole scheme of things, it's not a whole lot of money," said Halderman.

Gillespie recommended someone ask.

"If they give it to us, that's wonderful," said Eisenhauer.

Board members suggested looking into grants to make up the shortfall.

"A lot of grants you apply for you need to have matching funds," said Halderman.

Grants are also given only for specific projects, not general operating costs, said Maryrose Farquhar, library co-director.