Chelsea Bossert/Daily Mining Gazette Hancock Superintendent Chris Salani addressed the Hancock City Council at its meeting Wednesday, regarding the state of the school's Library.

HANCOCK — Hancock Public School District Superintendent Chris Salani, addressed the Hancock City Council Wednesday evening during its regular meeting. Salani answered questions council members had regarding the Hancock School Public Library (HSPL) and its future funding.

Salani pointed out he wanted to have a conversation with the city council and not just lecture. One of his main points was Hancock Public Schools’ (HPS) enrollment numbers have declined significantly over the last ten years. “[We’re] 65 percent of the size we we’re ten years ago,” he said.

According to Salani’s figures, the school district has lost 180 students since it took up a contract with Portage Lake District Library (PLDL.) While not correlated, Salani said declining enrollment and HSPL funding are connected.

Michigan Public Schools allocates funding per student enrolled in each district. This is called per pupil funding. According to Salani, since HPS’s enrollment has fallen from 796 in the 2015-2016 school year, to 521 in the 2025-2026 school year resulting in the district has less money to spend.

Salani said HPS is in “deficit spending” at the moment. He said they third party contracts, such as janitorial — to save money — and is looking to make cuts to services like the library in order to maintain a balanced budget. “We have to make some important decisions to maintain that health,” he said.

According to numbers provided by Portage Lake District Library and Hancock schools if the Hancock Library maintains all of its services and programming, the budget for next school year would be a little under $100,000. The school district is looking to cut around $10,000 from the proposed figure. Salani said this cut would be beneficial in keeping HPS out of financial trouble. “We can no longer be a deficit model,” he said.

Salani said there are several ways to deal with the deficit spending. One option is cutting hours, staff and most public services and run Hancock’s library like Lake Linden’s library. According to Salani, Lake Linden operates at half the budget Hancock does. He said one way to keep services is if 10 new students enroll in the district.

Salani said his budget recommendation will be pitched to the school board sometime before its June 15 meeting.

Mayor Protem Whitney Warstler said she wished she knew about this issue before the last minute. Councilor Mandy Lounibos asked Salani if he thought enrollment numbers would keep declining over the next few years. Salani said there is promising news but hebis not sure if it will fix the problem. He said kindergarten registration numbers were larger than the graduating class of 2026, however, Salani said he does not know if those students will choose to stay with Hancock throughout their schooling.

Warstler asked Salani and the rest of the council what the city and its residents can do to keep the library open to the public and fully functioning. City Manager Mary Babcock later pointed out the city’s attorney advised her to not pull money out of the general fund to help due to the legal concerns.

Lounibos asked Salani if community fundraising for the library was possible. Salani suggested donating to the Hancock Public Schools Foundation (HPSF), but he and the board will not directly ask for money out of its fund.

Many council members asked if the majority of the funding goes towards staffing, Salani and Hancock Librarian, Boni Ashburn, both agreed. Salani suggested Ashburn’s salary could be endowed through donations made to the HPSF, as she is the only full-time staff.

Another solution was pointed out by council member Dean Woodbeck who is also on the Hancock Schools Foundation board, would be to divorce the school from the library, then put it up for a millage.

Ashburn responded and said — as she understands — there are two viable millage scenarios. Joining PLDL, integrating itself completely into the library district, or becoming an independent public library. According to figures Ashburn received from former PLDL Director, Dillon Geshel, if the Hancock Library goes up for a PLDL millage, it would only need to propose .5 mills and would raise approximately $130,000 if approved.

City Councilor Ron Blau wrapped up the conversation with Salani and thanked him for his time. He said the city council needs to meet and go over options before action could be taken.

City Council proceeded with reports and new business after Salani left the chamber.