Budgets everywhere are in a state of flux during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Lehighton Area Memorial Library can feel a little more secure after its local school district pledged Monday night to still send its annual contribution.

The Lehighton Area School District had budgeted a $20,000 contribution to the library for 2020-21, but whether or not the payment would actually occur was still up in the air coming into Monday’s meeting.

“I don’t know,” Lehighton board President Larry Stern said when questioned by fellow school director and library board member Gail Maholick whether the contribution would be made. “We are watching every expenditure, and while I know the library is counting on the $20,000, the district is counting on it to fill gaps as well.”

Later in the meeting however, following a motion by Director David Bradley, the board unanimously voted to make the budgeted payment to the library.

“This money helps our seniors, our children and the whole entire community,” Maholick said. “I’ve been taking my children since they were in diapers. It’s an important thing to the community.”

The school district has faced a pivotal budget year. During budget talks, it cut transportation funding in an effort to help balance its 2020-21 budget before restoring $800,000 for busing just before the start of school.

Extra equipment, such as robotic Swivl cameras, to allow students the option to learn virtually from home, have also been necessitated due to the pandemic.

Before the 9-0 vote to release the library money, Stern said the district could possibly take a look at its financial situation later in the year to determine if the $20,000 contribution was feasible.

“I can’t see us donating funds outside the district right now,” Stern said before the vote.

Public comment, however, swayed heavily on the side of making the budgeted payment.

“When our students are going to school right now, they are in front of computer screens and iPads,” library board member Autumn Abelovsky said. “The library is still able to put a book in a child’s hands and give them the opportunity to turn the pages. That is a traditional value our children are losing right now.”

Past Lehighton board member and district teacher Gloria Bowman also advocated for the contribution.

“The district has been giving the donation for many years,” Bowman said. “I support it if it is in the budget. It helps the community at large.”