Seattle library officials say levy funds preserved hours and absorbed budget shortfall

Seattle Public Library leaders told the City Council Education & Neighborhoods Committee on Feb. 25 that levy revenue remains central to keeping branches open and maintaining services across the city. Chief Librarian Tom Fay said the levy contributes about one-third of the library budget while the general fund provides roughly 58% of SPL’s 2026 operating budget.

Fay said the levy funds roughly 25% of all library positions and supports operations at 27 locations, including openings, staffing for information desks, and meeting-room services. Rob Gannon, SPL’s director of administrative services, said the library’s capital budget for 2026 includes about $2,600,000 and that most levy dollars are directed to operating costs rather than capital projects.

Gannon explained administrative and central costs paid from the levy include two FTE (a part-time levy analyst and a prorated financial analyst) to support accounting and reporting for levy expenditures. He told the committee that, after a City Budget Office review, certain central costs were shifted onto the levy beginning in 2024, which produced notable increases in administrative-line spending in 2024–2026.

Fay also described a 2026 budget adjustment that used a Columbia branch retrofit allocation to absorb a $5,000,000 general-fund reduction, enabling SPL to maintain hours without immediate cuts. "That allowed us to keep our hours stable without impacting the hours," he said.

Committee members asked for historical comparisons between the current levy period and 2019 baseline years; Gannon said SPL can provide a year‑over‑year breakdown to show where levies and general‑fund contributions have shifted.

The presentation closed with council thanks for SPL staff and foundation partners; no formal votes or motions were taken during the briefing. The committee adjourned at 11:23 a.m.