(360) 943-5001 - Fax (360) 586-6838 - 415 Tumwater Blvd. SW - Tumwater, WA 98501
Reference & Information line: 704-INFO (360-704-4636) in Olympia area or toll-free 1-800-562-6022.
TRL Web site: http://www.trlib.org

Media Contact: Susan Hanson, Communications Manager, 360-704-4507, or Jodi Reng, TRL Director, 360-704-4512. Outside Thurston County calling area, call toll free: (877) 284-6237, or e-mail: shanson@trlib.org.

On Wednesday December 21, the Timberland Regional Library (TRL) Board of Trustees adopted a 2005 operating budget of $16,300,000, enabling the five-county system to maintain existing levels of service despite a continued reliance on reserves to balance revenues and expenses. The 2004 operating budget totaled $15,490,000.

"This is essentially a hold-the-line budget," explained TRL Director Jodi Reng. "It preserves operating hours in all 27 of our libraries, continues the Board’s commitment to providing new books and other resources and continues to move forward on our important community-based strategic planning effort."

The budget includes an increase of $142,200 for books and materials, a cost of living increase for staff, and project costs for capital facilities and long range planning.

"This budget not only allows Timberland to retain vital services and keeps building hours at a level that provides quality service for library patrons, but also enables us to look forward with citizen input in shaping our regional library system to meet challenges in the years ahead," Reng said.

Due to the continuing impact of voter approved Initiative 747 limiting property tax revenue, the budget requires the continuing use of cash reserves to balance the budget, drawing down $582,000. The property tax levy rate in the five TRL counties will drop to 45.3 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, compared to the 2004 levy of 47.0 cents and the legally-allowable level of 50 cents for library service. I-747 limits property tax growth to one percent per year without voter approval*. Property taxes account for 86% of Timberland’s annual revenue with another 8% coming from timber revenue.

The 2005 budget also includes capital funds of $563,000 for building projects. The source of this revenue is from timber sales and taxes. This fund includes $306,200 for project sharing costs with cities. Timberland and the Timberland Library Foundation are working together with the cities of Chehalis, South Bend, Westport and Ilwaco to raise funds for building renovation or expansion projects.

In other action, the Board elected officers for 2005. Edna Fund of Centralia was elected President and Dick Nichols of Thurston County was elected Vice-President.

The Board presented the Golden Tree Award for extraordinary achievement to two people. Arthur Blauvelt III of Board of Trustees member from Grays Harbor County received his award for his service as a Trustee for more than 14 years. Liz Stroup, TRL’s Reference and Adult Services Coordinator received the award for developing Timberland’s Central Reference Service which answers over 47,000 information requests each year.

The Board also awarded certificates of appreciation to six individuals who have served on local library boards and are ending their terms:

Ellen F. Nelson, Elma Library Board; Mary Lacey, Elma Library Board; Marjorie Stage, Hoquiam Library Board; Sheryl John, Winlock Library Board; Wes Cornelius, Winlock Library Board and E.J. Curry, Yelm Library Board.

* excluding new construction and increases in state assessed properties.

Timberland Regional Library serves the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community libraries and 4 school-based cooperative library centers. The library system is funded by local property taxes. For information on any subject, the public can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians at 704-INFO (704-4636) in the Olympia area or 1-800-562-6022, toll-free, from all other areas. Or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at www.trlib.org. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library 4 days in advance.

Revised 12/30/04