Library supporters and critics clash as commissioners weigh temporary funding and review

Residents filled the Washoe County commission chambers on April 15 to urge the Board of County Commissioners to maintain library services, while some commenters accused library staff and trustees of partisanship and financial mismanagement. The public comments came as staff presented a recommended FY26 budget that uses remaining balances in the library expansion fund, plus a proposed $1,300,000 general-fund allocation, to create a flat FY26 library budget of about $18,400,000.

Assistant County Manager Dave Solero told the board that the library expansion fund balance “can only be utilized for the reason for which it was collected” and that staff’s recommendation would combine remaining expansion-fund balances with a general-fund allocation to produce a flat budget for the coming year. Solero also said the library board and director would be asked to work with county budget staff on an updated service-delivery model by Oct. 1, 2025.

Many residents spoke in favor of continued funding during the public-comment period. Library Board volunteer chair Anne Silver, who was in the chamber, asked the commissioners to allow trustees additional weeks to review the director’s proposed budget and identify potential efficiencies before the board finalizes recommendations. “I request you allow us the time to do so so we can ensure we do not unnecessarily impact 23 personnel, but fully understand the revenue and expenses in a more detailed manner,” Silver said in public remarks.

Other speakers described the library as an essential community resource. A longtime patron and volunteer described services ranging from the bookmobile to online apps used by seniors and low-income residents, and multiple speakers asked the commission to prioritize a permanent North Valleys branch.

Some speakers criticized the library and its trustees. Commenters accused a trustee of publicly expressing opposition to a past ballot measure and alleged that some librarians displayed political bias; one speaker said those concerns were part of litigation surrounding the library. Library critics also questioned whether the library board had received or reviewed recent audit materials and asked why a recent audit report did not bear trustee signatures.

Commissioners expressed differing views. Commissioner Marielus Garcia said he supported restoring funding for libraries in the near term but sought safeguards and additional review; Commissioner Clara Andreola asked staff to consider a formal policy that the library board vote to recommend a budget to the county before it is submitted. Commissioner Mike Clark emphasized that the library expansion tax had been a 30-year sunset allocation and argued that the public had voted on the question. Several commissioners supported allowing the trustees additional time to analyze the director’s budget submission.

Staff emphasized that the tentative FY26 budget must be filed on the state’s deadline but said the board may change the tentative figures between now and final adoption. Solero and Cook said staff would work with the library trustees in the coming weeks to develop the service-delivery model and provide more detailed budget information to the board and to the trustees.

No formal vote about the library’s FY26 funding level was taken during the meeting; staff recorded the recommendation and plans for follow-up work and trustees’ involvement in a service-delivery review.