See the 2026 budget approved at the Board of Library Trustees regular meeting on October 28, 2025. See below for how the money is spent in 2026.
How the money is spent in 2026
- People, 71%: Staff wages, benefits, staff and trustee learning and development
- Materials, 10%: Print, digital, audio, devices, relia, archival collections
- Facilities, 5%: Maintenance, custodial services, utilities, fuel, snow removal, materials, supplies, signage
- Public Services, 5%: Programs, equity and anti-racism initiatives, digital services, SWAN, subscriptions, oppl.org
- Capital, 5%: Buildings and technology, infrastructure, furnishings, equipment
- Support services, 5%: Telephone, machinery, promotions, publications, interlibrary loan, catalog fees
About the library budget
- Oak Park property owners currently pay roughly 5% of their total Cook County property tax bill to the library. Nearly all (96%) of the library’s operating budget comes from property taxes (0.0366% from fees and 0.00291% from grants and gifts).
- Monthly financial statements are included in meeting materials, available on the Board of Library Trustees page.
- State of Illinois Public Act 102-0265 mandates that specified taxing districts, including the library, make a good-faith effort to collect and publish certain demographic information from vendors and/or subcontractors that do business with the library. View the most recent results received from vendors.
- Audited financial statements are typically completed in the fall of the following year: 2024 Annual Financial Report (PDF)
- For more information, contact Director of Finance and Human Resources Billy Treece at billyt@oppl.org.