Sno-Isle to request a levy lift

The Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees decided to go for a compromise last Monday . ask for a 9-cent levy increase and make some cuts.

Although the library projected deficit of $2.5 million in 2010 wasn't directly related to the current economy, the library system still had to take the economy into account, said Jacquelyn DeFazio, board vicepresident, of Camano Island.

The deficit is the difference between the cost of maintaining current services next year and expected revenue. Because of Initiative 747, Sno-Isle's revenue can only increase by 1 percent each year without voter approval.

Since the levy rate was last raised to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2003, it has dropped to the current rate of 31 cents per $1,000.

In the last two months, the library system held public meetings and sought opinions from the community on what Sno-Isle should do.

People expressed the desire to have library services maintained, DeFazio said. However, there was not a clear direction for action that came out of the comments.

Community members had inquired if there was a way to maintain essential services at a reduced cost, said Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory, Sno-Isle library director.

"We can accomplish quite a lot with less," DeFazio said.

The board feels it is important to avoid cutting service when residents are depending more and more on public libraries, DeFazio said.

A number of people depend on the library for access to computers, Internet and materials they wouldn't otherwise have, she said.

The board of trustees unanimously passed a motion to request a levy increase of 9 cents, which would bring the 2010 rate to 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, in the Nov. 3 election. In addition, Sno- Isle will make cuts that will have the lowest customer impact, said Art Peterson, board secretary, of Greenbank.

"The 9-cent increase will allow the library to meet the demand for essential services," he said.

For a $300,000 home, the levy lift would mean $27 more a year, totaling $120, said Mary Kelly, Sno-Isle community relations and marketing director.

The 2010 rate would become the base rate for the next year, she said. That means the 1 percent increase in revenue permitted under state law would be based off of next year's revenue.

Even with asking for a smaller increase, it would still be several years before Sno-Isle would need to ask for another levy lift, Woolf- Ivory said.

Should the levy increase pass, the cuts would be ones that impact the public the least, she said. The system will look at the materials budget and deferring technology replacements.

At this point, Sno-Isle Libraries plans to preserve open hours, Woolf-Ivory said. The system heard how people value and depend on a variety of open hours to access their local library.

The board of trustees will examine salary action at its next meeting, De- Fazio said. The community expressed concern about employee salaries.

The board of trustees also directed library staff to solicit community members to write the pro and con statements for the voter's pamphlet.

Sno-Isle Libraries' budget is due to the Snohomish County Council in November, Woolf-Ivory said. They will create two budgets, one with the levy increase and one without.

In the end, voters will decide.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 (ext. 125) or kpihl@scnews.com.