Library levy vote is one for books and pocketbooks

Taxpayers have paid the maximum 50 cents per $1,000 tax rate for Fort Vancouver libraries before, including 1994 and 1999-2001. The floating rate has dropped as low as 33 cents in 1997-98 and in 2008. It’s projected for 42 cents in 2011 (without a levy lid increase).

For many Americans, public libraries belong right up there on the pedestal, next to Mom and apple pie.

But the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District’s push to raise its property tax levy rate in an Aug. 17 vote to the statutory maximum — the first such request since voters gave their blessing in 1993 — raises two questions.

Is the request justified? Can taxpayers afford it during these trying times?

It’s pretty much the scenario instigated and endorsed by anti-tax advocate Tim Eyman.

A decade ago, the 13-branch library system rolled along quite comfortably, balance-sheet-wise. As per norm, total levy dollars collected could increase up to 6 percent each year, without a public vote or particular scrutiny.

Enter Eyman’s I-747, which in 2001 trimmed that annual levy “lid” increase to 1 percent.

Under rules approved by state legislators (after a court ruling tossed the successful initiative), FVRL’s levy income flattened, while personnel and other operating costs kept rising and other funding sources sagged.

By late 2008, when costs threatened to outstrip revenue, library officers jumped to act: They trimmed about 10 percent of employees (24 positions, including 11 layoffs), froze salaries and sliced one day per week of service from nearly all library branches.

There’s no sign of relief, given the lingering Great Recession — which has sent more users into libraries for job searching, free family outings or recreational reading, and Internet access they can no longer afford at home.

And so that same library board offers voters across Clark, Skamania and KIickitat counties and part of Cowlitz County a clear choice:

• Raise the tax rate, from about 42 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2010, to the maximum 50 cents, and get service fully restored — to six days at most branches, a full seven days at the flagship Vancouver Community Library. Plus, invest anew to build up noticeably thin book collections.

• Vote ‘No,’ and face the prospect of further service cuts as the district’s fiscal margin erodes.

The one-time boost in the tax base would generate about $2.7 million additional in 2011. After that, the same 1 percent lid on annual increases would apply; future tax rates would decline if total valuations climb again (as with voter-passed school levies).

Cost to property owners in 2011: An additional $16 per year for a $200,000 home; $20 more for a home worth $250,000.

Only a 50 percent-plus-one vote majority is required.

District cut ‘quickly’

“It’s true, that we finally reached the end of our string. The 1 percent just isn’t enough to keep up with services,” said Bruce Ziegman, FVRL executive director.

District operating costs are up 8.7 percent from 2006, but officials have chopped that spending the past two years, from $18.9 million in 2008 to $17.9 million budgeted this year. The reduced hours, layoffs and salary freezes led the way. (Also, Ziegman and budget director Patty Duitman each took a 2.5 percent pay cut last year, which remain in place: He now earns $131,820; she earns $103,697.)

As do other Washington public library systems, FVRL leans heavily on property taxes. Since 2005, the levy has supplied 95 percent to 96 percent of all district revenue.

Yet medical insurance and other costs grow by more than 1 percent, further squeezing the district, Ziegman said.

Also not helping: The library’s share of state forest timber tax payments, which often hits $300,000 or $400,000 per year has plunged nearly 90 percent.

“Last year, we took significant budget cuts,” Ziegman said. “I believe we were one of the first agencies to face up … that we were facing a significant decline, and we took action quickly. To me, that’s evidence of being good stewards of our taxpayers’ money, being responsible.”

Ziegman notes that the $43 million in construction bonds that were approved by FVRL voters in September 2006 to build new Cascade Park and downtown Vancouver libraries cannot be used for operating costs. Now, he hopes the new downtown library can serve customers seven days a week when it opens in mid-2011. And he knows Cascade Park users pine for a sixth day, again.

But all that rests on the levy, and voters’ mood, he said.

“Do they want to restore their library services?” Ziegman said. “This is a chance to do that.”

Public attitudes

FVRL leaders have reason for optimism on the Aug. 17 ballot. A Portland research firm polled residents across the library district’s four-county area in January and found wide levy support.

Among all voters surveyed, the proposed request earned 62 percent approval, at first blush — 68 percent once they were told how new money would be used.

Support was highest among frequent library users (84 percent, for initial response), women (73 percent), residents of Hazel Dell (74 percent) and Clark County (63 percent) — all within a 5 percent margin of error.

Outside Clark County, initial support was 48 percent, but hit 58 percent when funding use was explained. Men’s support was much lower, at 51 percent and 56 percent (when “informed”), respectively.

Still, board member Joan Higgins was frank in February, when school levies’ success nudged the board toward going for the August ballot, and again in May, when it sealed its decision.

“I’ve struggled with this,” Higgins said in February, citing the flailing economy, new taxes adopted by state legislators and a surly voting public in a heated election year. She ultimately was the only “no” board vote in May.

Voters get a say

Higgins’ colleague, board Chairman Bill Yee, a Stevenson resident, predicts a close vote. But he said many library users really want “that extra day back” after last year’s cutbacks.

FVRL has tightened its belt, pursued other options, and has given voters the last say, Yee said.

The district weighed imposing overdue fines for the first time, but there’s sizable cost in setting up billing and collections that would offset new revenue, and fees might turn many users away, he said.

Normally, the FVRL levy can grow only by 1 percent or the state-specific inflation rate, whichever is lower. Rather than declare a fiscal “emergency” and take 1 percent (as allowed), Yee and the board chose to accept the 0.8 percent index decrease in 2010.

The board thought it “better to let the people decide, rather than impose a 1 percent (hike) without a vote,” Yee said.

One more wrinkle: Clark County assessors expect property values to slide another 10 percent by next year. If FVRL waits longer, lower values would push its tax rate even closer to the maximum 50 cents — leaving only room for a smaller tax rate boost and scant new revenue.

Libraries still popular

Fort Vancouver isn’t alone: Faced with similar troubles, at least seven Washington library districts have won levy increase votes since 2008. Those systems serve residents of counties including King, Snohomish, Island, Whatcom, Whitman and Asontin. Voters did reject a proposal in the Olympia-based Timberland regional district early last year.

Meantime, the Southwest Washington public has voted strong library support — with its feet, anyway.

Total circulation (books and other items checked out) has grown 18 percent from 1999 to 2009, with a sharp spike recorded so far this year.

Overall visits, which can include Internet use and job search efforts not captured by check-out measures, will be near 2 million this year, officials say. That’s a 42 percent increase from 1999.

The riddle is whether voters will follow suit with dollars.

“One could argue, this is exactly the right time” for a levy request, Ziegman said. “This is when people need their libraries the most.”

Howard Buck: howard.buck@columbian.com or 360-735-4515.