Building costs for the new West Tisbury library have run slightly over budget, library leaders told the town selectmen this week.

At their meeting Wednesday, selectmen approved a request for $40,000 to go before voters at the annual town meeting in April. The new library is set to open in March.

Leah Smith, chairman of the library building committee, said the extra cost can be tracked to a higher-than-anticipated construction bid and the so-called Island factor of higher costs in general.

“Given the vagaries of the construction, especially on the Vineyard, it’s not so bad,” she said.

The $6 million project is being funded by a combination of state grant, private fundraising and town monies.

Selectman Jeffrey (Skipper) Manter 3rd balked at the request for extra funds.

“It was promised over and over again that the town share would not exceed $1.5 million — if we don’t hold ourselves to the word when they act on things we do we’re going someplace we shouldn’t,” he said. “I cannot support this request even though I love the project.”

But selectmen Cynthia Mitchell and Richard Knabel voted to put the money article on the warrant.

“It seems to me that we need to do it,” Mrs. Mitchell said.

“I don’t think you can nail right down to the last penny what it’s going to cost in the beginning,” said Mr. Knabel.

In other business, the selectmen discussed the status of the town solar project that saw a monkey wrench thrown into the works last month when the contractor for the project, Broadway Electric, said it was going out of business. The town contract for the project is with the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative, which subcontracted to Broadway.

Selectmen will meet with town counsel to discuss their options.

And planning well ahead, selectmen also set the date for the 2014 town holiday party, an Islandwide event. It will be Dec. 11 at the Agricultural Hall.