June 19, 2008

 


 

TRL Board Considers Going to Voters for Levy Lid Lift　

The Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees is considering the possibility of going to the voters for a levy lid lift to restore funding needed to maintain current public library services.

In the 40 years Timberland Regional Library (TRL) has served the public, it has never asked the voters to increase its levy rate. Approximately 80 percent of TRL’s revenues come from property taxes. But since its passage Initiative 747 has strongly impacted TRL by mandating the limit of a 1 percent annual increase. This has resulted in the library levy rate dropping from 50 cents to 34.5 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation. Inflation, 4.5 percent this year, has also impacted TRL as it has impacted other agencies, businesses and individuals. For the last two years, TRL has had to use its reserves to maintain library services. At the current service level, the reserve fund will be depleted by 2011.

TRL may ask for a levy lid lift or face the need to reduce services. Those services include 1.65 million books, DVDs, CDs and other items available in 27 community libraries in five counties; early learning and literacy programs for children and adults; professional reference and information services; public access to computers; and programs for all ages.

Timberland Regional Library is a good steward of public funds:

Efficiency: TRL has reduced administrative costs in order to improve direct library services.

Hiring: TRL is curtailing hiring new staff. Each position is carefully evaluated when vacated and cost savings adjustments have been made. Some budgeted positions have been left vacant.

Grant monies: TRL seeks and uses grant money for many programs, such as Mother Goose, youth and adult literacy efforts and its annual one-book/one-community program, Timberland Reads Together.

Public comments are appreciated. Please contact TRL Executive Director Jodi Reng at (360) 943-5001 or toll-free at 1-877-284-6237 or any of the TRL Board of Trustees or by send an email to comments@trlib.org.

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 7 library service partner locations. The library system is funded by local property taxes. Anyone needing special accommodations to participate in a library’s program may contact the library a week in advance.

Revised 06/20/08

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Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Western Washington State.