(The Center Square) – Spokane voters are being asked to renew an existing property tax levy to continue funding of city library operations for another three years.
Measure No. 1 is listed on ballots mailed to voters within city limits for the Tuesday, Feb. 13, special election. If passed by simple majority vote, the measure would replace a current levy set to expire at the end of 2024.
If approved, property owners will pay 7 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That equates to about $28 per year for the owner of a home valued at $400,000. The levy would raise an estimated $2.5 million for library operations in 2025, nearly $2.53 million in 2026, and $2.55 million in 2027.
Voters approved previous levy measures at the same rate in 2013 and 2017. The funds provide about 18% of the city library system’s annual operational budget.
“The library will be able to keep branches open seven days a week … (and) continue its popular policy of providing free meeting and event spaces for the public, which were reserved thousands of times in 2023,” wrote levy committee members Jim Kershner and Jens Larson in a statement of support published in the local voter’s guide.