Pierce County Library Levy Will Be On Ballot

LAKEWOOD, WA - The Pierce County Library system will ask voters to approve a property tax increase this November. The library system needs the revenue for one reason: lots of people use Pierce County libraries, but property taxes haven't kept pace with expenses.

If approved, the levy would increase property taxes 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value in 2019 - that's about a tax increase of $29 for the owner of a home assessed at $317,000.

Since 2009, the library system has maintained its annual budget by making cuts, furloughing employees, and deferring maintenance. Since 2006, the library's service areas has grown 16 percent, and 63 percent more more people now have library cards.

Property taxes provide the library's main source of revenue, about $30 million in the 2018 budget year. Meanwhile, the system's expenditures have grown by between 4 and 7 percent per year, according to the library. Under state law, property taxes can only increase about 1 percent per year, unless voters approve more.

Your closest library locations:

• DuPont 1540 Wilmington Drive
• Lakewood 6300 Wildaire Road S.W.
• University Place 3609 Market Place W
• Tillicum 14916 Washington Ave. S.W.

Image via Shutterstock