Beecher Library Board Approves Staff-Wide Pay Raises, Invests Nearly $450,000 in New CD

Article Summary: The Beecher Community Library Board made two significant financial moves, approving a series of pay raises for its entire staff and reinvesting nearly $450,000 from a matured Certificate of Deposit into a new one-year CD. The decisions reflect the board’s positive year-end financial position and focus on retaining staff.

Library Financial Decisions Key Points:

• The board approved the purchase of a one-year, $447,984.58 Certificate of Deposit at a 3.89% interest rate with First Community Bank & Trust.

• Funds for the new CD came from a previous investment with Midland Bank that matured on June 1.

• Pay raises were approved for 10 library employees, including an annual salary of $54,400 for Library Director Jill Grosso.

• The financial actions followed a positive review of the library’s end-of-year budget comparison.

BEECHER – The Beecher Community Library Board of Trustees took major steps to secure both its financial future and its personnel, unanimously approving a large new investment and a comprehensive slate of staff pay raises during its June 17 meeting.

The board first acted to reinvest funds from a Certificate of Deposit that matured at Midland Bank earlier in the month. After receiving quotes from both Midland Bank and First Community Bank & Trust, President Shirley R. Biery made a motion to purchase a new one-year CD from First Community Bank & Trust in the amount of $447,984.58 at an interest rate of 3.89%. The motion passed unanimously, securing the library’s investment until mid-2026.

Later in the meeting, following a nearly hour-long executive session to discuss personnel, the board returned to open session to approve wage and salary recommendations from its Personnel Committee for the new fiscal year.

The board approved new pay rates for 10 employees. Among the changes, Library Director Jill Grosso will receive an annual salary of

$54,400,whichincludesfourweeksofvacationandcomprehensiveinsurancebenefits.OtherkeystaffreceivingraisesincludeAssistantLibraryDirectorDawnGess($

27.50 per hour), Children’s Program Coordinator Jennifer Kaczmarczyk (

$19.00perhour),andMaintenancestafferJohnEngstrom($

37.50 per hour).

The board also approved new hourly and per-item rates for several library circulation clerks, a book processor, and an instructor. President Biery noted that the positive end-of-year budget comparison helped facilitate the financial decisions as the library nears the end of its fiscal year. The board also approved the payment of outstanding bills totaling $25,267.39.