LAKE STEVENS — A date of May 20 has been set for an election of Lake Stevens voters to decide whether property owners should pay a tax for library service.
The Snohomish County Council on Monday set the date for the mail-in vote.
Currently, the city of Lake Stevens contracts with Sno-Isle Libraries to operate the Lake Stevens Library at 1804 Main St. Under the direct tax, property owners would pay a levy to the district of 31.3 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, amounting to $94 per year for a $300,000 home.
The current library building is small and outdated, and joining the district is viewed as the first step toward a new library. Also, the city says there are other ways it could spend the $515,392 it expects to pay Sno-Isle for service in 2008. That figure represents a sharp rise from the 2007 total of $298,726 because the city has grown through annexation.
That money “competes with other services that the city provides,” city administrator Jan Berg said.
The city wants to hear residents’ opinions on what to do with the money, she said. An open house is planned for April 7 to give people a chance to hear more about the plan and to let city staff hear their views.
Sidewalks and park acquisition have been mentioned by residents as projects on which more could be spent, Berg said.
Some also have said the city should cut its own tax, essentially giving the money back to taxpayers. Joe Sutton is one of them.
“The citizens should have been given the choice to do this or not,” Sutton said. “My view is (the city) is blackmailing citizens into paying the tax or losing the library.”
Berg said the City Council has discussed the idea at several recent meetings at which the public had a chance for input.
Regarding people having a choice on the issue, she said, “that’s what the election is for.”
If the ballot measure fails, it doesn’t necessarily mean the library will close, but “it’s going to have to compete for those dollars,” Berg said.
If the measure is approved, another election would be held, probably early next year, in a separate measure for a new library. The City Council isn’t sure how much a new library would cost, or where it would be. The city and Sno-Isle have had cursory discussions about including a library with the city’s planned campus on Grade Road, but nothing has been determined.
Currently, 15 cities in Snohomish and Island counties, along with residents in unincorporated areas, pay the direct tax to Sno-Isle. Only four cities still use the contract method: Lake Stevens, Darrington, Stanwood and Langley. Darrington is also set to vote May 20 on whether to convert to the tax.
Reporter Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439 or sheets@heraldnet.com.
Open house
An open house regarding a May 20 ballot measure to join the Sno-Isle Library District is 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 7 at the Lake Stevens School District Educational Services Center, 12309 22nd Street NE.
City staff plan to ask for input on how the city should spend the money it will save by no longer contracting with the district for library service.
More info: 425-334-1012.
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