The 2014 budget for the Coplay Public Library has shrunk compared to the last two years.

The library board unanimously approved the 2014 budget at its Dec. 12 meeting. Voting in favor were board President Janet Eisenhauer and board members Faye Schreiner, Joan Witco and Charles Sodl. Board members Neil Mumma, Jane Gillespie and Karen Shields did not attend the meeting.

Next year's budget totals only $85,565, compared to $116,671 for 2013 and $102,628 for 2012.

The change reflects a loss of $72,000 in funding from the Whitehall-Coplay School District. The school district agreed to provide $48,000 in funding for 2013 while the board worked to get voters to approve a dedicated tax designed to replace the school district's contribution.

The borough had provided $16,500 annually and even upped it to $28,332 for one year to help make up the shortfall. However, officials did not budget anything for the library for 2014, saying the library should have sought an additional $16,500 through the referendum.

The library tax, approved in May, is expected to generate approximately $68,000 in 2014. Additional income includes $12,190 in anticipated state aid, $75 in interest, $1,200 in fines and fees for lost books, $700 for photocopies, $700 for special projects and youth programs, $2,000 for special events, $1,000 in donations and $700 in miscellaneous income.

State aid, in the amount of $12,500, has been steady since 2012 and has not changed in the budget.

Under expenses, salaries are now down to $53,878 from a high of $65,707.20 budgeted and $60,613.38 actually spent in 2013. The library started the 2013 fiscal year with six part-time employees and is now down to four because of two resignations. One of the two will be replaced, the board has said.

Although a number of expense line items vary, a few vary significantly. Among these is legal fees. The library had nothing budgeted for legal fees in 2012 and $1,000 budgeted for 2013.

The library hired attorney John Stover in August on an as-needed basis.

According to a financial report given by bookkeeper Teri Holderman, legal fees incurred by the library totaled $981.75 in September, $470.25 in October and $148.50 in November. The December and year-end figures won't be available until the Jan. 9 meeting.

The figures budgeted for furniture and technology also changed significantly for 2014. A total of $2,600 was budgeted in 2012 but none of it was spent that year.

In 2013, the budget stood at $1,000 and the library expects to spend $775 by year's end, according to the budget. However, Holderman's report lists no expenditures for furniture and equipment or technology.

Board member Charles Sodl said he wants Holderman to continue providing her monthly detailed reports so board members can compare the budgeted amounts to what is actually spent.

"At every quarter we will want to look and review this and see how we match up," he said.