Faced with continual increase in costs, the Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) is seeking its first levy lid lift in 16 years. The lift will be presented to voters in the August 5 primary election.
According to county assessor tax book data, the library system levy cost $0.50 per $1,000 assessed value as far back as 2000. Over time, that rate has declined to the present day rate of $0.26 per $1,000 in 2025. The total tax collected was $3.51 million in 2000; $9.76 million in 2024.
The WCLS Board of Trustees approved placing the levy lid lift during its March 28 meeting. If approved by voters, the levy lid lift would cost $0.42 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The levy would continue funding daily operations, which would allow WCLS to work on deferred maintenance and consider library building projects. Without it, the library system would need to reduce library hours and eliminate staff, according to WCLS.
The library trustees decided to go out for a levy now, in part, because of inflation that’s averaged 4-8 percent annually for several years has caused expenses to outpace revenue.
“The library system is careful and intentional in managing resources, but it is apparent that we have come to a point where rising costs require action,” WCLS Board of Trustees vice chair Matthew Santos wrote in a statement. “The resolution to pursue a levy lid lift in August is a proactive step to support our libraries’ ability to maintain services and staff.”
For a $600,000 home, the additional annual cost would be $96 or $8 more per month. An owner of a $400,000 home would pay an additional $64 per year, and an owner of a $800,000 home would pay an additional $128 per year.
The levy will require a simple majority, or 50 percent plus one vote of support, to pass.
The WCLS has begun looking for affected voters to serve on “For” and “Against” committees to write arguments for or against the levy. Those interested in participating may email their name, address, phone number and on which committee they would like to serve to wclslevy@wcls.org or 360/305-3641. The committees will be filled in order of receipt; the deadline to sign up is 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 15.
WCLS serves Whatcom County residents outside of Bellingham city limits. It has 10 branches, including locations in Blaine, and a bookmobile that serves Birch Bay and other rural communities. The Birch Bay Vogt Library Express construction is funded through state and private funding, but WCLS will cover operation costs when it opens.
In 2024, 61,846 people checked out 2.1 million library items and 54,748 people attended 2,252 free library programs, according to WCLS.
For more information on the levy, visit wcls.org/levy.
Correction: This article was updated on April 10 to correct that the levy needs a simple majority to pass, not a supermajority. We regret the error.
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gefitz
Point of order...passage of a levy lid lift does not require a supermajority in Washington State. Only a simple majority (50% = 1 vote) is required for passage. Thanks!
https://dor.wa.gov/education/industry-guides/ballot-measure-requirements/part-1-voted-regular-levies-levy-limit-levy-lid-lifts-and-general-obligation-bonds-port-districts/provisions-single-year-levy-lid-lifts-and-content-ballot-titles
Thursday, April 10 Report this