Arlington approves new library

Published 10:43 pm Tuesday, March 18, 2008

ARLINGTON — It’s unanimous.

The Arlington City Council wants a new library.

City Council members voted Monday to support an $8.8 million bond to build a new library.

Arlington’s library is 27 years old. Arlington’s population has more than quadrupled since it was built; from 3,282 to 16,090, according to the latest census estimate. Supporters of the bond say a new library is needed to meet the community’s growing needs.

Voters will decide on the measure during a May 20 election.

“People look to community leaders when they’re making decisions like this,” said Mary Kelly, spokeswoman for Sno-Isle Libraries. “So I think it makes a difference to the community to know how their leaders feel on issues.”

This will be the third time since 2000 that voters have been asked to decide the library’s fate.

Most recently, voters rejected an $8.1 million bond in 2006. The measure fell short of the 60 percent needed to pass by just 28 votes. It failed with 5,307 voting in favor out of 8,891 total votes.

The $8.8 million bond is estimated to cost homeowners 14 cents per $1,000 of the assessed value of their property. A homeowner with a $300,000 house would pay $42 a year.

If approved, the money would fund construction of a new library across the street from the current building.

Herald Writer Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.