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Budget Overview

Budgeting Process Overview

Fiscal responsibility is one of Glenview Public Library’s core values. We work to ensure every public dollar is invested thoughtfully to provide high-quality library services while planning responsibly for the future.

The annual budgeting process begins each summer when department directors develop their proposed budgets using a zero-based budgeting approach. Rather than automatically carrying forward the previous year’s expenses, they start from scratch, reviewing each cost based on current needs, priorities, and goals.

The proposed budget is presented to the Glenview Public Library Board of Trustees at their meeting in August, followed by additional public discussions in September and October. The Board formally adopts the budget after this review process. All Library Board meetings are open to the public.

Because Glenview Public Library is a municipal library, the Village of Glenview also plays a role in the process. After approving the annual budget, the Library Board requests that the Village Board levy the property taxes needed to fund it. This request is presented during the Village Board of Trustees’ third annual budget workshop.

A graphic depicting the relationship between the Library Board and the Village Board. In one circle, the Library Board approves the budget, oversees operations, and set policies. In another circle, the Village Board authorizes levy and secures funding. A circle in the middle joins these two together, shown by a icon of two hands shaking, called shared stewardship.

This transparent, collaborative process reflects the Library’s and Village’s shared commitment to responsible financial planning and careful stewardship of public funds.

2027 Budget Timeline

Glenview Public Library Board of Trustees Meetings

Thursday, August 20
Preliminary Budget Presentations

Thursday, September 17
Budget Revisions

Thursday, October 15
Budget Approval

Village of Glenview Board of Trustees Meetings

October Date: TBD
Preliminary Library Budget and Tax Levy

Tuesday, November 17
2026 Tax Levy Public Hearing

Tuesday, December 1
Final Adoption of the Library's Levy

Funding Sources

Property Taxes

Property taxes make up 95% of the Library’s funding. The remaining 5% is funded by other sources such as fees, grants, donations, and interest income.

That investment delivers significant value to the community. Each year, Glenview residents save more than $15 million by borrowing materials, attending programs, using digital resources, and accessing Library services instead of purchasing those resources on their own.

With an annual tax levy for library operations of less than $9.5 million, the Library returns substantially more value to the community than it costs, which is an excellent return on investment for Glenview taxpayers.

A pie chart showing the breakdown of funding sources at the Library. 95% of funding comes from property taxes and 5% comes from other sources.

Property Tax Breakdown

The Library receives 3.8¢ cents out of every tax dollar. The other 96.2 cents fund other agencies like the school districts, village, and park district.

An image of a dollar that is broen down into pieces, showing how the 2024 property tax breakdown is used. 38.9% is used for School District CC34, 28.8% for Glenbrook High School District, 8.1% for Glenview Park District, 6.1& for Cook County, 5.5% for Village of Glenview, 4.5% MWRD, 4.4% for other taxing bodies, and 3.8% for Glenview Public Library.

Expenses

Personnel Costs

Salaries, health insurance, benefits.

Capital Reserves

Annual savings for future building projects and major repairs.

Operating Expenses

Collections, programs, building maintenance, technology, supplies, etc.

A pie chart shows the operating expenses at the Library. 68% goes to personnel, 26% to operating expenses, and 6% to capital reserve. Next to the operating expenses pie piece, it is expanding to show a bar graph breakdown of the operating expense. Of the 26% operating expenses, 36% of that goes to collections, 21% to other, 15% to building costs, 14% to technology, 8% to professional services, and 6% to programs.
A pie chart showing expenses at the Library. 68% goes to personnel, 26% to operating expenses, and 6% is capital reserve.
A bar graph depicting the operating expenses at the Library. Of the 26% of expenses that are used for operating, 36% goes to collections, 21% to other, 15% to building costs, 14% to technology, 8% to professional services, and 6% to programs.
Operating Expenses

Budgets

Past Financial documents can be found here.

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