Sedro-Woolley council to ask voters about joining regional library district in November

Sedro-Woolley will put a library annexation measure before voters in November 2026 after the council voted in favor of an option that would annex the city into the regional library district in 2027 while reducing the city's budgeted levy by the amount the city paid to the library in 2025.

Kelly, a library staff member, briefed the council on five options that included immediate annexation, annexation timed to follow a library levy-lid lift and variations on whether the city would reduce its own budgeted levy. She emphasized the city’s role is limited to deciding whether to place annexation before voters; the library district independently controls any levy increases.

Council Member Peterson moved to place annexation on the November 2026 ballot using the option that would trim the city's budgeted levy by roughly the library payment (the staff memo identified a candidate figure up to $474,115 as the maximum reduction described). Council Member Henderson seconded the motion. The council approved the motion; the presiding staff announced the motion passed.

Council members who supported the motion said it was the least disruptive option for taxpayers while giving Sedro-Woolley residents a direct vote on joining the district. Opponents raised procedural questions and asked how the city would communicate the change and its dollar impact to voters.

What’s next: staff will prepare ballot language and public information outlining financial implications and the timing of annexation if voters approve it.