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Spokane library warns of 2027 shortfall, says levy increase likely to avoid service cuts
Summary
Spokane Public Library officials told the City Council they face a structural funding gap and may seek a substantially larger levy next year or risk service reductions, layoffs and deferred maintenance beginning in 2027.
Andrew Chance, director of Spokane Public Library, told the City Council on Tuesday that the system faces a structural funding shortfall that could force cuts to hours, locations and staff if new revenue is not secured.
"Less investment in the library is less investment in the community," Chance said, arguing that the library now functions as a citywide platform for education, workforce readiness and digital access. He told council members library visits exceed 1,000,000 and said they are "close to 1.3 million" annually.
Nicole, the library's finance director, reviewed the library's revenue history and projections, saying the system's levy — currently 7¢ per $1,000 of assessed value — helped stabilize operations after a 2014 payroll crisis. "Our total purchasing power loss over that period of time is $22,000,000," she said, and the levy has provided about $21,000,000 since inception.
Nicole…
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