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Seattle Library Levy 2024: Sustaining a Civic Lifeline
An op ed from library groups in favor of the library levy, in today’s Seattle Times. Give it your consideration- voting closes Tuesday August 4. https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/dollars-for-libraries-seattles-values-are-on-the-line-in-aug-4-primary/
This levy fails to address the root cause: a broken funding model that forces libraries to beg voters every six years. The $85 annual increase for a median homeowner is modest, but we're patching a leaky roof instead of replacing it—Seattle needs a stable, dedicated funding stream that doesn't expire.
Without this levy, Rainier Valley and Delridge branches will cut hours further, and the 300-person waitlist for digital literacy tutoring will only grow. We can't claim to care about equity while letting the library system that serves our most vulnerable residents crumble.
Portland passed a similar library levy in 2020 during a recession, and Denver renewed theirs in 2022 with 68% voter support. The pattern is clear: when libraries are framed as essential infrastructure, not a luxury, they win even in tough fiscal times.
What happens if the city's budget deficit worsens and property values drop? This levy locks in a regressive tax that hits fixed-income homeowners hardest, with no guarantee the funds won't be diverted to other shortfalls.
This levy unlocks 15,000 students staying connected to youth programs, seniors finding community, and new immigrants accessing ESL resources. It's an $85 investment that returns $5 for every dollar spent.