Liberty Lake council adopts unified, neutral funding language for library advisory materials

The Liberty Lake City Council voted 5-0 on Aug. 19 to adopt a single, neutral statement the city will use in official communications about funding options for the library/community-center advisory vote.

Council members said the move aims to reduce mixed messages after residents and councilors noted differing wording in social media and an open-house survey. The motion requires city messaging to use language such as “funding options may include grants, donations, future property tax bond measures and/or other city general fund revenues” or simply “funding to be determined.”

Why it matters: Council members said residents were receiving inconsistent impressions about whether any of the draft facility options would require new taxes. Council member Tim Cargill and others said the city must be transparent about funding uncertainty so voters can evaluate advisory options without being nudged by city-prepared text.

City Administrator Mark McAvoy, who had raised concerns before the vote, said staff seeks “clarity and unambiguous direction so that I can ensure that the staff understands the policy.” Council members debated whether the city should suspend active public engagement until after the advisory vote; instead they agreed to continue outreach but to use the adopted, neutral funding wording in official posts and materials.

Several council members said they want a short fact sheet for staff and councilors to use at public events so that official answers are consistent. The council's motion passed unanimously. The adopted wording is intended to be used in survey posts, open-house invitations and other city-produced materials about the advisory measure.

Council members and staff emphasized that the advisory vote is nonbinding and that actual funding decisions — whether via grants, donations, bonds or other city revenues — would be decided later through the city's budget and authorization processes.

What’s next: Staff said they will update the city's survey and social-media posts to remove the previous language that read “no tax increase required” and will use the council-approved neutral phrase. The city will continue public engagement at scheduled events and will prepare a consistent fact sheet for official use.

Ending: Councilors said they intend to keep communications fact-based and consistent to avoid confusing voters while allowing individual council members the ability to discuss the measure in their personal capacities.