Funding the Library System We Deserve Through Prop. 1
## CONTEXT
The Seattle Public Library (SPL) system, a cornerstone of civic life for over 130 years, operates 27 branches across the city, serving a population of over 750,000. The current funding model relies heavily on a dedicated property tax levy, first approved by voters in 1998 and renewed multiple times since. However, the most recent levy, passed in 2019, was structured to maintain existing services rather than expand them. The situation is that SPL faces a structural deficit: operating costs—driven by inflation, rising healthcare costs for staff, and deferred maintenance on aging facilities—are outpacing levy revenue growth, which is capped by state law at 1% annually plus new construction. The complication is that this funding gap has forced the library to reduce hours system-wide, freeze hiring, and delay critical capital projects like the replacement of the aging Ballard and Greenwood branches. The question facing Seattle voters is whether to approve Proposition 1, a new seven-year levy that would increase the library’s share of property taxes to restore and expand services. The answer, as framed by the proposal, is a decisive “yes,” as the levy represents a modest increase for homeowners—roughly $10 per month for a median-valued home—to secure a public good that serves as a vital equalizer in an increasingly unequal city. Comparable cities like San Francisco and Denver have recently passed similar library funding measures, demonstrating that voters are willing to invest in libraries when the need is clearly articulated.
## PROBLEM
The core problem is that SPL’s chronic underfunding has created a two-tiered system of library access within Seattle. Branches in wealthier neighborhoods like Queen Anne and Capitol Hill benefit from robust private fundraising through “Friends of the Library” groups, while branches in lower-income areas like Rainier Beach and South Park struggle to maintain basic services. This inequity is not just a matter of convenience; it has measurable harms. A 2022 study by the American Library Association found that children in households with limited access to library resources are 30% less likely to be reading at grade level by third grade. In Seattle, where the digital divide is stark—15% of households lack broadband internet—libraries are often the only free public access point for job applications, homework help, and telehealth appointments. The cost of inaction is compounded by deferred maintenance: SPL estimates it needs $300 million in capital improvements over the next decade, including seismic retrofits, HVAC replacements, and accessibility upgrades. Without new funding, the system will continue to cut hours—already reduced by 20% since 2020—and delay the replacement of branches that are functionally obsolete, like the 1950s-era Douglass-Truth branch in the Central District. Comparable data from Portland’s Multnomah County Library system shows that after a similar levy failed in 2018, the system lost 15% of its staff and reduced programming by 40%, leading to a measurable decline in literacy outcomes in underserved neighborhoods. Seattle faces the same trajectory if Prop. 1 fails.
## PROPOSED SOLUTION
Proposition 1 proposes a seven-year, $1.2 billion property tax levy to fund SPL operations, staffing, and capital improvements. The levy would replace the expiring 2019 levy and increase the library’s share of property taxes from $0.30 to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. For a median-priced Seattle home (currently $850,000), this means an increase of roughly $170 per year—or $14 per month. The decision to pursue a levy rather than a bond measure or general fund appropriation was deliberate: levies provide a dedicated, predictable revenue stream that insulates libraries from annual budget battles at City Hall. The action plan includes three pillars: first, restoring branch hours to pre-pandemic levels (six days per week at all branches); second, investing $50 million in digital infrastructure, including expanded e-book collections, Wi-Fi hotspots for checkout, and a new mobile app; and third, allocating $250 million for capital projects, including the replacement of the Ballard and Greenwood branches and seismic upgrades at the downtown Central Library. The process for implementation mirrors that of Seattle’s successful 2019 Parks Levy: a community oversight committee will review spending annually, and the City Council must approve a detailed spending plan within 12 months of passage. Execution will be managed by SPL’s existing administrative team, with new hires phased in over the first two years. Rejected alternatives included a smaller, five-year levy that would only maintain current services, which critics argued would not address the capital backlog, and a proposal to fund libraries through a new business tax, which was deemed politically unviable. The levy model has proven effective in comparable cities: Denver’s 2018 library levy passed with 68% support and has since funded a 25% increase in programming.
## EXPECTED IMPACT
If Prop. 1 passes, the most immediate impact will be the restoration of branch hours. All 27 branches will return to six-day-per-week service within 18 months, reversing the 20% reduction implemented in 2022. This alone is expected to increase annual foot traffic by 1.5 million visits, based on SPL’s own modeling and data from Denver’s post-levy experience. The second major outcome is the expansion of digital equity programs. The $50 million digital infrastructure investment will allow SPL to triple its e-book collection to 500,000 titles and distribute 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots to households without internet access. Based on comparable programs in Chicago and New York, this could close the digital divide for an estimated 15,000 Seattle households. The capital improvements will have a longer-term impact: replacing the Ballard and Greenwood branches with modern, energy-efficient facilities will reduce operating costs by 20% at those locations while increasing usable space for community programming. The seismic retrofit of the Central Library, a landmark building designed by Rem Koolhaas, will protect a $200 million public asset. The equity impact is particularly significant. Branches in underserved neighborhoods like Rainier Beach and South Park will receive priority for capital upgrades and expanded programming, including early literacy initiatives and workforce development classes. Based on outcomes from the San Francisco Public Library’s 2019 Proposition E, which funded similar equity-focused investments, SPL projects a 15% increase in youth literacy program participation and a 10% increase in job placement services usage within three years. The levy’s oversight committee will ensure transparency, with annual public reports on spending and outcomes.
## DECISION LENS
| | If this passes | If this doesn't pass |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What will happen | Library hours restored to six days/week; digital equity programs expanded; capital projects funded; 1.5M additional annual visits; 15,000 households gain internet access; literacy and job programs expand in underserved neighborhoods. | Library hours remain reduced; digital divide persists; capital backlog grows; branch closures possible within 5 years; staff attrition accelerates; inequity between wealthy and poor branches widens. |
| What won't happen | Property taxes won't increase for other services; City Council won't need to find alternative funding; library won't be subject to annual budget cuts; private fundraising won't be the primary driver of branch quality. | The structural deficit won't be resolved; deferred maintenance won't be addressed; the digital divide won't narrow; library services won't be equitable across neighborhoods; the system won't modernize. |
## PRECEDENTS
EXAMPLE: Denver, Colorado — What: Voters approved a $37 million annual property tax levy for the Denver Public Library system, replacing a smaller expiring levy. The measure passed with 68% support and funds operations, staffing, and capital improvements. — Outcome: Within three years, the library restored Sunday hours at all branches, increased programming by 25%, and launched a mobile library service for underserved neighborhoods. Circulation increased by 18% and annual visits rose by 1.2 million. — Outcome: Within three years, the library restored Sunday hours at all branches, increased programming by 25%, and launched a mobile library service for underserved neighborhoods. Circulation increased by 18% and annual visits rose by 1.2 million.
EXAMPLE: San Francisco, California — What: Voters passed a $298.5 million general obligation bond for library capital improvements, including seismic upgrades, accessibility renovations, and new branches in underserved areas like the Bayview and Mission districts. — Outcome: The bond funded the renovation of 12 branches, with a focus on equity. Post-renovation, usage in targeted neighborhoods increased by 40%, and the library system saw a 15% rise in youth program participation. The bond also created 1,200 construction jobs. — Outcome: The bond funded the renovation of 12 branches, with a focus on equity. Post-renovation, usage in targeted neighborhoods increased by 40%, and the library system saw a 15% rise in youth program participation. The bond also created 1,200 construction jobs.
EXAMPLE: Multnomah County, Oregon — What: A $60 million annual library levy failed to reach the required 50% supermajority, receiving only 47% support. The levy would have funded expanded hours, staffing, and a new East County branch. — Outcome: The failure led to a 15% staff reduction, a 40% cut in programming, and the closure of the library’s bookmobile service. Circulation dropped by 12% over two years, and literacy outcomes in low-income neighborhoods declined. The county later passed a smaller levy in 2020, but recovery has been slow. — Outcome: The failure led to a 15% staff reduction, a 40% cut in programming, and the closure of the library’s bookmobile service. Circulation dropped by 12% over two years, and literacy outcomes in low-income neighborhoods declined. The county later passed a smaller levy in 2020, but recovery has been slow.
July 14, 2026
