You might be surprised to learn that public libraries in Washington are mostly paid for by their local communities – not the state. For Whitman County Library, our largest source of funding is local property taxes.

Local funding means local control. WCL is governed and operated locally, and the State Library does not have direct authority over our day-to-day operations or local funding decisions. This means the community can make decisions about its library based on local needs and priorities.

It comes down to community support and local partnerships. Towns that have a physical library typically partner with the library to provide a place for it to operate. When a town and library work together, it makes having a physical library in the community possible.

Your money goes toward the everyday things that keep the library open and available to the community. The figures below are estimates and may vary, but they give you an idea of how your support makes a difference.

We all know that the cost of just about everything has gone up by far more than 1% over the past few years. A Levy Lid limits how much property tax revenue a taxing district can collect each year. While our statutory maximum tax rate is 5%, state law generally limits our levy revenue to a 1% increase each year. In simple terms: our costs keep going up, but our revenue is limited to 1% growth. Over time, that creates a growing gap that puts pressure on the services our community depends on.

Our costs continue to rise faster than our revenue, and we are now facing a budget deficit. Without additional revenue, we will have to make difficult choices about spending and the services we can continue to provide. This is not about increasing taxes simply because we want more funding. It is about addressing a growing deficit and ensuring we have the resources necessary to continue providing the services our community depends on

We are not asking for the full 5% maximum levy rate. We are asking voters to approve a 4.5% levy rate and allow us to keep that rate steady for the next 10 years. This gives the library more predictable funding and helps us plan for the future without having to repeatedly return to voters for approval.

Levy elections are costly for both the district and the community. A 10-year levy lid lift gives the library stability and predictability so we can plan ahead, manage our budget responsibly, and continue providing services without asking voters to approve another levy lid lift every few years.

The cost depends on your home’s assessed value. Here are some examples based on the current and proposed rates:

These are estimated annual amounts. Your actual tax impact will depend on your property’s assessed value.

If you are a senior or a person with a disability, you may qualify for a Washington State property tax exemption or reduction.

Our first priority will be to stop the bleed. We will close our current budget gap and get the library back on solid financial footing. We will continue to pursue grants and other outside funding for programs and special projects, just as we have always done. Our focus is on maintaining the library we have, keeping our services strong, and making sure we can operate responsibly for the long term.

If the levy lid lift doesn’t pass, the need doesn’t go away. The library will still have to cover staffing, building costs, technology, materials, and the services our community relies on. Without the additional revenue, we’ll have to make difficult choices about what we can sustain, potentially reducing hours, programs, services, or other investments.

We understand that asking for an increase in property taxes is something people will need to consider carefully. Everyone’s financial situation is different, and we respect that. Our goal is to provide clear information about the library’s financial situation, what the proposed levy would fund, and what it could mean for taxpayers so that each voter can make the decision that is right for them.

Join us at one of our upcoming Library Levy Community Conversations throughout Whitman County to learn more, ask questions, and have an open conversation about what this investment means for our community and the future of our library.

Thank you for being part of our library community. We are grateful to be a part of yours.