King County library seeks boost in tax limit to avoid cuts

The King County Library System is asking voters outside Seattle to approve a ballot proposition that would stave off the need to cut the library's budget in 2011 and beyond.

But an opponent of the measure argues that the library ought to be making cuts in lean times, like most other government agencies are doing.

The measure is on the Feb. 9 mail-in ballot to voters in all of King County except for Seattle, Renton, Enumclaw, Hunts Point and Yarrow Point — cities that aren't part of the King County Library System.

If approved, Proposition 1 would allow the library to get around an initiative that limits the growth in property-tax revenues to 1 percent annually, unless voters approve a higher increase. That's what they're being asked to do in this election.

Under I-747, an initiative sponsored by Tim Eyman and passed by voters in 2001, the library district can ask for only 42 cents for each $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2010. If the proposition fails, next year's rate — which has not yet been set — is not expected to raise enough money to fund the library's $92 million annual budget, said Julie Brand, communications and marketing director for the library.

Brand said voters approved a similar measure, a higher increase in the library's growth in property-tax revenues, in 2002. The bump in property-tax collections sustained the library system for eight years in part by allowing it to bank a chunk of the money and use those savings to keep services at the same level.

If the Feb. 9 proposition passes, the library expects to raise an extra $16 million or so, most of which would be socked away and used over a number of years to maintain services, Brand said.

But if the proposition fails, the library will have to cut its budget by 10 to 15 percent next year. That could cause increased wait times for popular books, reduce the availability of computers, and mean less frequent maintenance and upkeep of the system's 45 branches, Brand said. Eventually, the library might have to cut hours and staff positions, she said.

Brand said that in the past eight years, and especially in the recent recession, use at the libraries has skyrocketed — up 43 percent since 2002. It is one of the most heavily used library systems in the country, Brand said. In 2009, the library circulated 21.3 million items.

Brand said the 1 percent limitation on increases in property-tax revenue is hard to live with because library costs typically go up more than 1 percent a year.

The library wants to raise its property-tax rate to 50 cents for each $1,000 of assessed value. For the owner of a $380,000 home — the average value of a home in King County — the cost would be $190 a year, or about $30 more than this year's property-tax levy for library services.

Will Knedlik, a former state representative and tax activist, has written a statement against the measure in the King County voters pamphlet. Knedlik said he thinks the library system should find ways to cut its budget, as other agencies have had to do during lean times.

He thinks the pro-Proposition 1 statement in the voters pamphlet is deceptive, because it says the tax increase would be in effect only for one year.

Brand said that information is correct, because the tax rate of 50 cents for each $1,000 of assessed value is only for one year. But if the increase passes, the total tax revenue collected under the new rate would be used as the basis for the library system's property tax limitations in subsequent years.

Knedlik also thinks many libraries in the system are spending too much on entertainment and computer access for children and that they have, in effect, become "recreational and day-care centers" for the community.

"My point of view — it's generational, and I'll admit it — is I like libraries quiet," he said.

Katherine Long: 206-464-2219 or klong@seattletimes.com