The Lynnwood Regional Library sails a literary sea surrounded by other libraries that are all part of the regional Sno-Isle Regional Library District.
The Lynnwood facility is the largest in the system and costs $3.5 million a year to operate. The city owns the building and pays $1.1 million to Sno-Isle for services with the library system making up the other $2.4 million
A measure on the November ballot asks Lynnwood voters to approve annexation into the system and direct taxation by Sno-Isle. The tax now runs about 42 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value with a lid of 50 cents per $1,000.
While Lynnwood dwellers may not be too receptive because they are used to library money coming from their city taxes, neighboring South County cities have already annexed to Sno-Isle and Lynnwood should do the same.
If voters don’t approve the plan, Sno-Isle plans to ask more from the city. This alarms city fathers because Lynnwood faces a growing list of capital needs, such as a new police station and a new community center.
Approving the library tax won’t reduce Lynnwood dwellers’ city taxes. City officials would like to redirect the $1.1 million now going to Sno-Isle to a building fund. While some faith would be in order while city councilors set capital priorities, residents would likely still have some control as most projects would require going to the voters in the future
Voters don’t have to decide on public safety or checking out a book. Annexation should be approved because the measure reflects the real cost of running the library and frees up city money to start working on building for Lynnwood’s future.
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