Spokane Valley wants a library, but talks about potentially splitting off from county district’s services

The Spokane Valley City Council has made it clear that it desires a new library across Sprague Avenue from the new City Hall, but it’s not clear how it’s going to be paid for or who would run it.

That was the takeaway by the frustrated contingent of Spokane County Library District’s board of trustees that gathered briefly outside Spokane Valley City Council Chambers on Tuesday evening, after listening to a city staff presentation on how the city could potentially de-annex from the district.

Spokane County Library District Executive Director Nancy Ledeboer said she is tired of the mixed messages from the council.

“I was hoping we would get more of a definitive answer as to what the City Council desires to do tonight,” Ledeboer said. “But we didn’t.”

Trustee Kristin Thompson said the de-annexation talk needs to come off the table quickly.

“And then we need to see some action that (the City Council) actually supports the library,” Thompson said.

Possible de-annexation was brought up at a council meeting earlier this year, after the library district announced it wouldn’t try a third time to pass a bond to pay for a library expansion that would have included a new Spokane Valley library on Sprague Avenue.

The district paid the city $2.5 million for land there on the condition that the land could be returned to the city at the same price if the bond didn’t pass.

That deal sunsets in October 2017 and the library district has not formally requested to let the deal go back, Ledeboer said.

The library’s Spokane Valley service is funded partly by property taxes.

City Attorney Cary Driskell said the law is not clear on what would happen to the tax levy if the city chooses to de-annex.

Driskell said a de-annexation would have to be put on the ballot and a simple majority could pass it.

Property and buildings currently owned by the district would remain with the district.

Ledeboer agreed that the law is unclear when it comes to cities de-annexing from a library district, perhaps because there are no prior examples.

Ledeboer cautioned the city against assuming the library district would continue to provide services in Spokane Valley, if the city chooses to leave the district.

Currently a family that lives outside the district may pay $100 a year for access to the library.

“We may choose to look at that service differently,” Ledeboer said.

Ledeboer said the library district has provided library services in Spokane Valley since 1942 and that 87 percent of residents there voted for joining the district after the city incorporated.

Spokane Valley Mayor Rod Higgins said Tuesday’s presentation was not an indication of which action the council may take.

“I just hope we can move on in a positive manner and find a solution,” Ledeboer said.