SALINA, Kan. — The Salina Public Library Board reviewed its annual authority to move a portion of its general operating budget into the library’s Capital Fund, a financial tool used to pay for large, infrequent, or unexpected expenses.
Under Kansas statute and internal policy, the library may transfer up to 10% of its general fund budget into this capital account each year. For 2025, that ceiling equals approximately $270,000.
What the Capital Fund is for
The Capital Fund functions like a long-term savings account for:
• Facility repairs or upgrades
• Major equipment replacement
• Technology systems
• Emergency structural costs
• Future project readiness
These dollars cannot be used for routine salaries or day-to-day operations.
Why it matters
This transfer authority gives the library flexibility when facing expensive items that exceed the normal operating budget. If a major HVAC unit fails, if the roof needs work, or if a technology overhaul becomes necessary, funds set aside in the Capital Fund prevent the library from needing to request sudden tax increases or emergency allocations.
Money can move back
A key detail often misunderstood: Kansas law allows the Library Board to move capital money back into the general fund if needed. This means the transfer does not “lock away” funding; instead, it gives the library optionality based on how the year unfolds.
The Board reviews this mechanism annually and determines whether a transfer is appropriate based on the year's fiscal conditions.
