City Council endorses library levy lid lift

Published 7:00 pm Monday, April 30, 2007

The City Council voted to endorse a ballot measure that could increase taxpayer support of the Kitsap Regional Library system.

“I support this wholeheartedly,” said Councilman Bill Knobloch before joining his colleagues in a unanimous vote.

In ballots due May 15, KRL is asking voters to approve an 18 cent increase for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The current county-wide rate is about 30 cents for every $1,000 of assessed value.

The levy lid lift would give KRL an additional $6.1 million in 2008.

Allocated over a five year period, the funds would pay for additional staff, technology, facilities, reading support and improved check-out systems. The lid lift would also cover KRL’s projected $2.1 million shortfall in 2008.

In its 52-year history, KRL has sought a lid lift one other time, in 1979.