Lift levy lid to keep great library services

In the Sept. 19 election, we’re being asked to vote on our library services. The vote will determine the quality and quantity of what our district can provide.

This measure is called a “maintenance and operations levy.” It’s also known as the Levy Lid Lift. The law now allows the library district to levy an assessed value property tax of 50 cents per $1,000. This levy amount, the same we’ve been paying for decades, provides 92 percent of the district’s revenues. The levy is paid by residents of unincorporated Spokane County and the annexed cities of Cheney, Deer Park, Fairfield, Latah, Millwood, Rockford, Spokane Valley and Waverly.

Here’s the issue:

There is a state limit or “lid” on how much a district can collect in a given year and on how much the rate itself can increase.

With the rise in property values and new construction, the tax money the district collects in 2007 will surpass this limit. This would mean that the district could only collect 44 cents per $1,000, a $12 per year savings on a $200,000 house.

Think this is a good savings and benefit to you? Not so fast.

Here’s the problem:

District libraries face the impact of inflation, just as we all do. Library costs rise 4 to 5 percent per year. State law limits library tax collections to an annual increase of only 1 percent. Result? Library costs increase while tax money decrease. This decline will mean fewer library hours and fewer purchases of books and materials.

A no vote, as you can see, would reduce the district’s ability to serve us.

By voting yes on lifting the levy limit for 2007, we keep the same 50 cent per $1,000 rate we’ve been paying. And that rate might even go down if property values increase beyond expectation.

Here’s the benefit:

The additional revenue gained by lifting the lid, or keeping our current 50 cent rate, will allow the district to expand hours at nine of the 10 district libraries. In addition, the district can purchase more materials, including books, DVDs, CDs and audio books, and get faster Internet access for customers.

In the last year, the Spokane Valley, north Spokane, Moran Prairie and Cheney libraries introduced open hours on Sunday to great success. Lifting the levy lid would permit Sunday hours for more libraries in the district and increase open hours on other days as well.

The district is planning to construct a new library in Spokane Valley, which will be paid for by voter-approved bonds in a future election. But the preliminary costs of hiring an architect and choosing a site must come from the current district budget.

Please read your voter pamphlet information carefully. Remember, the vote is on lifting the lid of revenue, not on the levy itself. Approval requires a simple majority.

You can also find a wealth of information at the district’s Web site, scld.org.

I encourage a “yes” vote on lifting the levy lid. In doing so, we not only keep our current library services, but improve them for the same price we’ve been paying.

Now that’s a great deal.