Request for higher library taxes in Pierce County expected to get OK

A library levy hike likely will be on ballots in Pierce County this fall.

Pierce County Library trustees are expected on Wednesday to approve a ballot measure for the Nov. 6 election restoring the current levy, according to a press release from the board.

That would be a levy of $50 for every $100,000 of assessed property value. Without the increase, the 2019 levy is projected to be $41.50 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.

A restored levy, the release said, would provide money to maintain services that include:

▪ “Convenient” open hours at 20 locations.

▪ Online library resources.

▪ 1.5 million books, e-books, movies and other materials.

▪ Staff to support growth and thousands of classes and events, computers, Wi-Fi and technology offerings.

▪ Community connector services such as public meeting rooms, community events and forums.

Without the restored levy, the library system will have to reduce the hours libraries are open and cut the number of books, movies and other materials purchased. It also will need to close two or three of its 18 full-service libraries.

“Since 2009," the release stated, "to manage its budget the library system has eliminated, reduced, streamlined or did not offer needed services and deferred maintenance totaling $20 million. The restored levy is needed primarily because costs to operate and maintain library services and libraries are increasing at a faster and higher rate than revenues."

The last time the library system asked voters to restore its levy funding was in 2006 and voters approved the request. The library system projected the money would meet its needs for up to six years but was able to stretch the funding to cover 12 years, according to the release.

During that time, the population in the library’s service area has grown by 16 percent and the number of people with county library cards increased by 63 percent.

At the library board's June meeting, a community advisory committee that analyzed the library’ system's funding and input from the public recommended the board ask voters to restore the system’s funding to its full authorized amount.

Under state law, the library system can seek no more than a 1 percent increase in property taxes.

More information is available at bit.ly/2NuxAfF or www.facebook.com/PierceCoLibrary or www.twitter.com/PierceCoLibrary.