Library district asks for levy increase to replace bookmobile; board debates options and City of Flagstaff administration costs

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors heard a detailed presentation on library district operations and three funding options to address rising costs and replace the county’s aging bookmobile.

Library Director Linda Tilson told the board the bookmobile has resumed service and is making dozens of stops; staff reported 60 new patrons in the first three months since service resumed. The library district recommended replacing the vehicle with an M2 bookmobile to preserve browsing capacity for remote communities. Staff said it typically takes 12–18 months to build and deliver a new vehicle.

To pay for the replacement and rising operating costs, library staff presented three levy options: Option 1 (highest) would fund roughly half of a replacement bookmobile and preserve healthier fund balances; Option 2 would fund about one‑third and draw more on reserves; Option 3 would be a smaller incremental increase that funds about one‑fifth of the replacement and would leave reserves thinner. County management indicated its budget recommendation favors Option 1.

Supervisors and library staff also discussed operational pressures: rising costs for digital materials, utilities and janitorial services, market pay adjustments the City of Flagstaff has made for library staff, and the fact that some administrative support — HR, legal and finance — is currently provided by the city. City staff said the arrangement has worked but noted the city is asking for cost recovery for administrative services to reflect the staff time and overhead it provides.

Board members expressed concern over security incidents at Flagstaff branches, including repeated disruptive incidents and occasional threats to staff; library staff said incidents have increased and described options such as police aids and a software system to better track repeat offenders and trespass warnings. The board also heard that the Flagstaff lease for East Flagstaff Library remains in place for about three more years but that potential campus renovations could affect future space.

The library district also asked the board to consider the longer‑term administration model for the district; a consultant review recommended the existing city‑county partnership is working but that the district’s administrative costs are not fully covered. City of Flagstaff representatives said the city is open to continuing the partnership but would like clearer cost‑recovery arrangements in a future intergovernmental agreement.

Supervisors voiced broad support for moving forward with the M2 bookmobile and for Option 1 as the manager’s recommended approach, citing the county’s rural service obligations and the need to keep the bookmobile operating while a replacement is procured. No budget appropriation was made on Tuesday; the board directed staff to include the manager’s recommendation as part of the FY26 budget process.