Vote too close to call for Sno-Isle Libraries levy

Sno-Isle Libraries executive director Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory says the first wave of results of the system's maintenance levy were too close to call.

The ratio shifted half a percentage after the second ballot count came in Wednesday night, with the measure still failing by a small margin in Snohomish County — 53 to 47 percent — in Snohomish County, and barely passing in Island County. The combined total is almost evenly split.

About a fourth of registered Snohomish County voters weighed in on the issue during Tuesday's special election.

“We want to be cautious and wait for all ballots to be counted before assuming the measure passes or fails,” Woolf-Ivory said in a news release.

Sno-Isle public information manager Jim Hills said approval means millions of dollars. If it passes, operations will continue at the same level. If it fails, hours and staffing levels will be reduced, he said.

“We have been clear from the beginning if the levy doesn't pass, and we go into 2019 at the current funding level, then there has to be about $2 million that comes out of the budget for 2019,” he said.

The resolution to put the measure on the ballot passed on Dec. 11. The levy would restore 9 cents to the library district’s regular operating levy, from 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to 47 cents.

If it doesn't, the current levy will remain, according to the release. According to the library district, the property tax levy accounts for 98 percent of Sno-Isle Libraries’ funding.

Hills said this was not an extra ask.

“It is the core piece of what keeps things going,” he said.

The district began drawing from reserves three years ago, and it is expected that there will not be enough to maintain current services by the 2019 budget. The last time the library district went to voters was in 2009.

Sno-Isle Libraries serves 743,540 residents in Snohomish and Island counties through 22 community libraries, online services and Library on Wheels. Hills said libraries have always evolved to meet the needs of customers.

“More customers are downloading books, music and video, and our collection reflects those choices,” Woolf-Ivory said in the release. “More communities are looking to the library as a gathering place and programs such as the Issues That Matter series. We are meeting those changing needs now and are looking ahead to meet community and customer needs in the future.”

Hills said the system has been preparing for this vote for at least a year. Open positions were left unfilled, or people were temporarily hired on, in the case that the budget does take a hit. Long-term staffing decisions will be addressed if the levy fails, he said.

For now everyone is in “wait and see mode,” Hills said. He said it was too early to make assumptions about why the measure was or wasn't successful. Next steps will be decided once results are finalized.

A simple majority is needed to pass the levy. Votes will be certified in May.