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Highland council backs leaving modest library tax option in tentative budget to shore up services
Summary
City staff told the council a roughly $172,000 property-tax increase (about $27.55 on an average Highland home) would yield roughly $12,000 net for the library this year; after discussion the council directed staff to leave the smaller option in the tentative budget and to proceed with required public notices and outreach.
Erin, the city’s budget presenter, told the Highland City Council on April 29 that staff had prepared two property-tax options to address library staffing and service shortfalls and recommended relying on an ongoing revenue source rather than a one-time transfer.
“This is your budget,” Erin said, adding that staff’s role is to present options and that the proposed $172,000 increase in the library fund would produce only a modest net revenue increase for this year. Karen, representing library staff, noted programs and services under strain: “It’s grant funded through June 19, actually,” she said of a senior program and warned that Libby and interlibrary services have growing costs.
Why it matters: Highland’s library participates in the TLC interlibrary consortium, which expands patrons’ access but increases staff workload for processing holds and deliveries. Staff said a new full-time or converted part-time position is the primary, ongoing cost the tax revenue would support; without an ongoing revenue source, staff warned a transfer from general fund reserves would not be sustainable beyond a few years.
Staff presented two options: the budget as drafted includes about $172,000 in new property-tax revenue (what staff called “Option 1”), estimated at roughly $27.55 for the average Highland household, which would leave the library with about $12,000 of net new revenue this year. Option 2 — a slightly larger increase of about $187,000 (roughly $30 per average household) — would produce roughly $27,000 net. Erin cautioned that property-tax revenue does not automatically keep pace with inflation and that any increase would likely push the timing of the next funding conversation out by only one to a few years absent growth or new revenue sources.
Several council members voiced support for the modest option. “I’m very pro library,” Council member Smith said, noting wide community use and that the library often operates on limited funds. Others urged clear public education and outreach about what the revenue would pay for. One council member recorded dissent but staff said the majority preference was for the smaller increase; Erin said she would leave Option 1 in the tentative budget for now.
What comes next: staff will follow the state’s truth-in-taxation process, publish required notices and impact schedules, hold a city open house (scheduled for May 13), and bring a public hearing and tentative budget adoption in June before the truth-in-taxation hearing and final budget adoption in August. The council also asked that library stakeholders — the Friends group and library board — be present at public outreach events with clear materials on program impacts and household cost estimates.
The tentative budget will reflect the council’s direction to include the smaller property-tax option; a final decision will follow required public-notice steps and later council action.
