Princeton Public Library trustees issue statement about parking garage issue and budget

Proposed municipal funding for the library has been kept flat in the 2026 budget, even though health insurance costs and other expenses have risen.

The Princeton Public Library Board of Trustees issued a statement Monday afternoon, April 20, addressing the library’s 2026 budget and a proposal by the Princeton Council finance committee to eliminate free two-hour parking at the Spring Street Garage in exchange for providing the library with the $149,000 it needs to balance its budget.

The proposal has intensified debate over library funding, public access, and the future of a longtime downtown parking benefit used by library patrons. Under the current system, library cardholders can park in the Spring Street Garage for up to two hours at no cost if their parking is validated at the library.

Municipal officials presented trustees with options tied to parking changes as the town works to finalize its 2026 budget. One option would end validated parking for all library cardholders and generate the full $149,000 needed by the library. A second option would eliminate the benefit only for out-of-town cardholders and would provide $50,000 in additional funding. The issue was discussed at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees on Wednesday, April 15.

In a letter that was read at an emergency trustee meeting Friday, the trustees were given until April 20 to respond to the proposal. The board did not take formal action at the meeting.

Planet Princeton has requested copies of the letter but has not received one so far. The reporter has filed a public records request seeking a copy of the letter. The reporter also asked the library for copies of notes from the two meetings last week and was told they would not be available until the minutes are approved on May 20. The library trustee meetings are recorded. Planet Princeton has filed another public records request for those recordings.

“Our top priority is to ensure that everyone in our growing and dynamic community can easily access Princeton Public Library’s resources,” the library trustees said in their Monday statement. “The Board supports solutions that balance broader municipal priorities with the community’s need for convenient library access. We’re continuing to work constructively with the Town Council on this issue to support that goal so we can safely staff and maintain the library building to continue to serve thousands of people each day.”

The board also emphasized that it does not control parking policy at the municipal garage. Trustees noted that decisions about parking services are made by the Princeton Council.

“Decisions about municipal parking services are the Town Council’s prerogative,” the statement said. “Any changes that affect access need to be evaluated thoroughly to ensure that all community members can benefit from library services now and in the future.”

The parking issue has surfaced before. In 2015, a proposal to eliminate the free parking benefit prompted public backlash, and officials ultimately kept the program in place. Parking access was also part of broader discussions in the past about whether the library should remain downtown or move to a site with more convenient parking.

The latest debate comes as Princeton considers an $84.8 million proposed municipal budget for 2026 with a 7% spending increase. Municipal officials have cited rising health insurance costs, salary increases, and debt service as key drivers of municipal spending growth. Despite those pressures, the municipality is keeping library funding flat.

Earlier this year, the library reduced hours because of rising costs, and library officials have said further cuts may be necessary without the additional $149,000.