||| FROM SAM BLACKMAN et. al |||
On behalf of the Orcas Island Library Advocacy Committee, I’d like to ask my fellow islanders to vote YES for Proposition #1. Our library is primarily funded through a property tax levy, and our last levy lift (in 2016) of $0.45/$1000 assessed value now has an effective rate of only $0.215/$1000 assessed value. With recent federal cuts to libraries, including an executive order to eliminate of funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, services that we’ve come to rely on will become more expensive or outright cost-prohibitive. Beyond this, lack of sufficient funding through the current property tax levy will result in constraints on operations due to a substantially smaller budget. Combined these funding constraints will lead to reduced hours, programs, collections, and services, as well as staff cuts and deferred building maintenance.
The Library plays a critical role in our community. Beyond its outstanding collegian of educational and entertainment materials, the library provides programming and cultural experiences, free community gathering and work spaces, public internet access, and tools for individual learning and professional development. For some members of our community on tight or fixed budgets, the Library may be the sole way to access these resources.
As many you know, the Library and it’ s Board have always worked to do more with less, relying on an outstanding array of volunteers and a highly productive and hard working staff. As a result the Library has been outstanding stewards of the community’s tax dollars, and routinely works to supplement our tax dollars with grants, donations, and support from the Friends of the Orcas Island Library so that we minimize our reliance on property tax dollars.
This year, the Library District is asking for a partial restoration of the 2016 levy lid lift, which will raise the current property tax levy from 21.5 cent to 42 cents per $1000 of assessed value. For a $700,000 home, this means an annual increase of $147 (or $12.25/month). This modest request will allow us to sustain library operations and maintenance through 2035!
We encourage the entire community to please vote YES to support our outstanding Library, its dedicated staff, our beautiful facility, and the incredible array of resources that they provide our island. Orcas Island Public Library is truly a jewel within the jewel of our island home. Let us all keep it that way for years to come.
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- Sam Blackman
- Janet Marlow
- Leslie Walker
- Tracey Smith
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Thanks for writing this Sam and to all who contribute to our amazing library. Our library is an invaluable resource and for $12.25/month, it’s hard to think of a better deal. We will certainly be voting YES on prop #1.