Library system may put levy on ballot

The annual library-tax bill for the owner of a $300,000 home would increase from $103.50 to $150 under a proposal that Timberland Regional Library might put on the ballot next year.

The library system is expected to have a $1.9 million budget shortfall this year, and board members say the five-county library system could be forced to cut staff, hours and book-buying budgets if the levy increase fails. The system has 450 employees.

The library system is considering raising its tax rate from 34.5 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation to 50 cents, the maximum allowed, library director Jodi Reng said this week. The increase would be the first in the district's 40-year history.

"Unfortunately, 71 percent of our expenditures are salaries, wages and benefits, so we would have to be looking at reducing staffing levels," said Michael Crose, manager of administrative services.

The past two years, the library system has used reserves to balance the budget. But the shortfall has risen from $61,000 last year to almost $2 million this year. At current service levels, the reserve would be depleted by 2011, library system figures show.

Crose said budgeting for library services is a challenge.

"We worked really diligently to find a balance between the resources the district has available and the demand for services that the patrons are requesting," he said.

Crose said the system is strapped because of a sharp decline in forest excise tax revenue and Initiative 747, which limits revenue increases from property taxes to 1 percent a year. The library system budget has continued to have problems since I-747 passed in 2001.

Timberland Regional Library, with headquarters in Tumwater, runs 27 community libraries, five cooperative library centers and two library kiosks in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor and Pacific counties. A tax levy would affect the entire area, Reng said.

Programs include early learning and literacy programs for children and adults, professional reference and information services, public access to computers, and programs for all ages.

No decisions have been made on a tax increase or on cuts to library services.

The library system already has reduced administrative costs and curtailed hiring and seeks more grants to fund programs, Reng said.

She said that once the budget is stabilized, the tax rate would go back down to the level needed to maintain service levels.

"What we need and no more," she said.

Matt Batcheldor covers the city of Olympia for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-704-6869 or mbatcheldor@theolympian.com.