The Scarborough Public Library Board of Trustees have updated their cost estimates for a proposed building expansion and now expect the project will cost about $6.4 million.

The trustees will give a report to the Town Council regarding the final figures as well as the decision to remain at the current building at its Wednesday meeting after The Current’s deadline.

The library also plans on undertaking a private fundraising campaign and estimates it can raise $1.5 million in donations. At this point, some councilors are in favor of putting the question to voters for their consideration.

“We’ll find out if people are in the need to spend,” said Council Chairman Steve Ross. “People have got to look at their financial situation and decide what they will live with.”

Councilor Sylvia Most supports the expansion and said the project would be a benefit to the entire community.

The library has explored the option of building a new library at Memorial Park, but decided it would be less expensive to remain at its current location, said Library Director Nancy Crowell.

“Our information suggests it would have been difficult given the (ground) levels on that property; we would have had to build a multi-level building,” Crowell said, adding that it would cost about $2 million more.

She also said that a lot of preliminary work has been done based on the existing library and the building was constructed with future expansion in mind, making it easier to build the addition.

Crowell said the library would be able to receive a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to cover the project. The loan would be similar to a mortgage and the town could make minimum payments or pay it down quicker.

The town would be responsible for the payments, but would most likely include the loan payments in the library’s operating budget, said Town Manager Ron Owens.

As it stands, it seems that the town would send an advisory referendum to voters in June that would gauge the public’s opinion for the 13,800-square-foot addition and renovation project.

If the council agrees to move forward with the loan, the town will be responsible for the entire amount, including the $1.5 million that will be privately raised, Ross said.

Town Manager Ron Owens expects that the issue will receive a preliminary vote at the council’s March 15 meeting.