Borough cut risks roughly $200,000 shortfall, Ketchikan library board is told

At a meeting on April 8, borough assembly representative Cathy Foley told the Ketchikan Library Advisory Board that a borough decision to lower its library mill contribution from 0.7 to 0.5 mills will leave the library “roughly $200,000” short for fiscal year 2027 unless allocations change. Foley said Assembly member Matson indicated she was not interested in restoring the higher rate, and urged community members and the board to prepare factual materials for advocacy to borough leaders.

The shortfall, Foley said, stems from an intentional drawdown in the borough’s library bucket and the timing of fiscal-year budgeting. “Because there was excess, the borough decided last year to drop that from 0.7 to 0.5 and sort of spend off what is extra in this bucket,” she said, and that leaves the city library facing an estimated funding gap for the coming year.

The board and staff discussed how the gap could affect services. Library director Pat Tully said personnel costs, benefits and utility expenses have been rising and that state grant rules require the library to be open a certain number of hours to qualify for its public library assistance grant. Council liaison Jack Finnegan said one concrete reason for higher utility costs was an administrative reclassification: when the utilities department corrected the library’s account from residential to commercial, the charge increased even though consumption did not.

Board members emphasized that advocacy should be based on clear numbers. Several members urged compiling a packet showing the dollar impact of each mill on individual property tax bills and on total program costs so the board or citizens could present a data-driven case to the borough before the assembly’s decision deadline. Foley said she would provide more precise figures and noted the borough must make its funding decision by June 15.

There was no formal vote or motion to lobby the borough during the meeting. The board discussed two next steps: (1) have staff prepare a clear budget packet and statements of services (including which hours and programs would be at risk), and (2) check with the city clerk and city attorney about what actions the advisory board may take formally as an advisory body versus what board members should do as private citizens. Several members also suggested circulating a public letter of support and agreed to consider a special meeting if quick action proved necessary.

Pat Tully also reported inventory and operational figures that board members said would help advocacy: an annual inventory counted 58,983 physical items with about 80 unaccounted for (roughly 0.1% of the collection), and the library has expanded outreach programs and weekend hours that are popular with families and students. Board members noted a state Public Library Assistance grant provides some support but is small relative to ongoing operating costs; director Tully said the board should not assume the $7,000 state grant would cover the additional hours.

What’s next: the borough’s funding decision is expected by June 15; the advisory board asked staff to prepare a budget packet with per‑mill cost breakdowns and to return to the board with numbers so members can decide whether to request a special meeting or prepare a public letter of support.