Billerica Library Board Approves $1.8 Million FY26 Budget With Staff Raises

BILLERICA — June 2, 2025 — Billerica Library trustees approved a $1,802,587 fiscal year 2026 budget and a child safety policy update at their June 2 meeting, while receiving word of a $333,702 estate bequest to the Billerica Library Foundation. The FY26 budget, previously approved by town administration, includes a 3 percent cost-of-living increase for all staff on July 1 and an additional 1 percent on January 1, 2026, along with expanded materials funding to maintain state certification and aid eligibility. The library's director announced the gift from the estate of the late Olga Sims, a longtime Billerica resident and library advocate, noting it represents approximately 24 percent of a trust and "more than doubles" the foundation's existing endowment; the foundation is developing an investment plan with Enterprise Bank. Trustees also voted unanimously to revise the child safety policy so staff begin checking for unaccompanied children 15 minutes before closing rather than at closing time, and approved the Billerica Holiday Festival Committee's request to use the library for its 27th annual holiday reception on November 21.