Voters to decide on tax increase for King County library services
February 3, 2010
By Warren Kagarise
NEW — 11:37 a.m. Feb. 3, 2010
King County Library System children’s librarian Jennifer Loomis reads a book about a chameleon at Snoqualmie Library’s pajama story time. KCLS is running a levy for voters in the Feb. 9 election. Part of the levy would pay for the salaries of library employees, like Loomis. (Photo by Laura Geggel)
King County Library System officials are asking voters to increase property taxes to maintain programs and services in the third-busiest library system in the nation.
Officials trimmed $1.9 million from the system last year, cutting money for technology upgrades, building maintenance, new books and other materials. Proponents said additional money raised through the property tax increase is necessary to prevent further cuts. Opponents said the library system should not increase the tax burden on homeowners in a recession.
King County voters will decide the measure, Proposition 1, on the Feb. 9 ballot. Proposition 1 asks voters to restore the property tax rate to 50 cents per $1,000 in assessed value in 2011. A homeowner with a $400,000 home would pay $32 more next year if voters approved the measure. The measure would raise the rate for a year.
Parents and their children listen during Snoqualmie Library’s pajama story time. (Photo by Laura Geggel)
In 2009, the levy rate dropped to 36 cents as property valuations climbed faster than 1 percent during the past several years, library documents state.
Officials rely on property tax dollars to run the 44-library system. Proposition 1 is a levy lid lift; money raised through the measure would be used for library operations. If the measure fails, the library system faces budget cuts between 10 percent and 15 percent.
The levy lid lift differs from a capital bond measure; money raised through a bond is funneled to facilities and infrastructure.
Julie Brand, community relations and marketing manager for the library system, said the measure is crucial because usage has climbed 43 percent since 2001, as the system expanded and more patrons utilized county libraries. The recession boosted numbers further, Brand said, as residents sought free access to books, CDs, DVDs and the Web.
“In bad times, people turn to libraries,” she said.
Brand referenced the $32 property tax increase for a $400,000 home, and said, “$32 is a deal” for the services libraries provide for free.
Proposition 1 opponents, however, said the measure is ill timed amid the economic downturn.
“However, as public schools and government agencies reduce expenses during the worst recession since 1929, library management coldheartedly disregards thousands of unemployed, including families losing homes overburdened already by over-assessed property taxes,” Will Knedlik, a former state legislator, wrote in a statement against the ballot measure in King County’s voters’ guide.
Snoqualmie Library Managing Librarian Irene Wickstrom said the levy would help pay for many programs, including computer classes for seniors and people learning English and the summer reading program for children.
Since the new Snoqualmie Library opened in 2007, circulation has grown more than 65 percent, according to library circulation numbers. In 2009, patrons checked out 180,255 books.
Between 2002 and 2009, North Bend Library increased its circulation by 12 percent to 264,521 books checked out annually, according to circulation data.
Nataliya Chelnokov, who sat with her son Daniel during Snoqualmie Library’s pajama story time, said she would vote ‘yes’ on the levy.
“It provides nice activities for the children and they’re very educational,” she said. “I would definitely vote for it.”
Mike Behn and his 4-year-old daughter Avery agreed. Avery participated in the library’s summer reading program and was thrilled to receive an art kit after reading books all summer long.
“We’re voting for it,” Mike Behn said. “We think it’s a good community benefit and they provide a lot of services. We don’t want to see them cut back.”
Proposition 1 supporters said voters understand the library system is a crucial community resource, especially in a down economy. Library resources allow people to update resumes, conduct job searches and apply for unemployment benefits, in addition to the usual programs and services, Brand said.
“Voters in King County have always strongly supported the library system,” she said. “We provide so much to so many different people.”
State law limits the amount library officials can raise property taxes to 1 percent. Voters must approve increases greater than that.
Washington voters passed Initiative 747 — a measure promoted by tax-buster Tim Eyman — almost a decade ago. The measure limited annual property tax increases to 1 percent. Courts later declared the measure unconstitutional, but in 2007, state lawmakers reinstated the 1 percent cap.
Voters also approved levy lid lifts in 1977, 1980 and 2002. The most recent lift passed the year after voters approved I-747.
Voters also passed a bond measure for the system in September 2004. But the state Public Disclosure Commission chastised the library system after the election, when the commission said library system Director Bill Ptacek used library facilities to promote the ballot item. The measure passed with about 64 percent of the vote.
Reporter Laura Geggel contributed to this report.
Warren Kagarise: 392-6434, ext. 234, or wkagarise@isspress.com.
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Hmmm if the amount is used towards the library… then I’d vote ‘no’. I just found out so many things our library system is doing that is totally absurd and incomprehensible. I don’t know why they would need the extra money when the books that are donated aren’t used to it’s full extent of usage,,, instead, it gets sold for 90% the retail price. Even books that they do not have… Just does not make sense.
I meant to say 90% off the retail price. For instance, a book that would normally cost $16 will be sold for $.50. Even if it’s brand new, just the thought it was ‘donated’. And there are books that the library does not even have, and yet it gets sold @ that crazy price. So, I don’t know why they would need extra cash. There are women who are active in the ‘Friends of the library’ and yet, they have to use their own materials or office supplies to do things for the library… so what does the library need the EXTRA money for? I was told personally from the director that so MUCH expense goes to ‘one’ book. Maybe it’s best they start looking into this first where they can lessen the cost of bringing a book to the library system and maximize the use of what’s being given and donated. Maybe they won’t need extra money after all. There are better ways to use the tax money (such as the schools)…. direct recipient are the kids who are in schools and they need it the most!