Library board to discuss budget

At the Pierce County Library System’s Board of Trustees’ Wednesday, Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m., regular meeting, the board will discuss the draft balanced operating budget and planned work for 2025, a comprehensive capital facility plan, the interim Lakewood Pierce County Library opening, and address additional business.

The meeting will be held in person at the Pierce County Library Administrative Center at 3005 112th St. E., Tacoma. Optional virtual attendance is available via mypcls.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/. 

In follow up to the September Board meeting, Library administrators will continue discussions with the Board to create a balanced operating budget for 2025. In September, the Board continued deliberations on how to manage finances as costs to operate libraries will increase at a higher rate than revenues starting in 2025. In addition, to begin to using funds from the Levy Sustainability Fund, the Library System will make changes to operations to reduce costs and implement further efficiencies next year. Library administrators created the Levy Sustainability Fund and the Board of Trustees approved it, following voters passing a levy lid-lift in 2018.   

In 2025, the Library’s plan of work will stem from its new strategic plan for 2025-2029. The Board of Trustees is scheduled to give a final review of the strategic plan and approve it at the November or December 2024 Board meeting. The strategic plan will guide how the Library’s services will meet individual and community needs. A major focus next year is continuing to work with the Sumner community to build a new Sumner Pierce County Library, which voters approved in 2023. 

For more information: https://mypcls.org/about-us/board-of-trustees/.