Would this be a new tax?
Yes. Your next tax bill will have another line-item on it that will cost you $.42 per $1000 in assessed value. In total, KCLS would raise $4.6 million in taxes from Renton this year, and if King County Proposition 1 goes through, $5.3 million next year after that. In 10 years, we will have paid over $55 million in extra taxes. That's enough to pay for two new libraries and stock them with new books.
What are they not telling us?
1) Your taxes will go up $.42 per $1000 in assessed value. That's $4.8 million the first year, and higher the next year.
2) Renton will have to give any new buildings to KCLS - even though you'll pay for them
3) KCLS will not pay for any buildings for us.
4) KCLS will not give us credit for the book collection that Renton has amassed over the last 90 years.
5) The Renton portion of your property tax will go up 17%
6) It costs about $2 million to run the library, yet KCLS will change us $4.8. The rest of the money will go elsewhere.
7) KCLS s having budget problems of it's own - they has said "10%-15% cuts across the board."
2) Renton will have to give any new buildings to KCLS - even though you'll pay for them
3) KCLS will not pay for any buildings for us.
4) KCLS will not give us credit for the book collection that Renton has amassed over the last 90 years.
5) The Renton portion of your property tax will go up 17%
6) It costs about $2 million to run the library, yet KCLS will change us $4.8. The rest of the money will go elsewhere.
7) KCLS s having budget problems of it's own - they has said "10%-15% cuts across the board."
Will Renton still collect the $.26 if we join KCLS.
Yes. The $.26 is the City of Renton's estimation of what portion of your current taxes go toward funding the Renton library. Renton will still collect those dollars, but would do other things with it.
Would we have to give KCLS our buildings?
KCLS doesn't want our current buildings, but any new buildings will have to be paid for be Renton Citizens and given to KCLS.
Per KCLS website: " New buildings would be maintained, operated, and owned by KCLS."
Renton taxpayers would fund the new buildings and once they were complete turn them over to KCLS. KCLS would own them.
Per KCLS website: " New buildings would be maintained, operated, and owned by KCLS."
Renton taxpayers would fund the new buildings and once they were complete turn them over to KCLS. KCLS would own them.
Is KCLS part of King County Government?
We'll let you decide:
No: The budget for KCLS is entirely separate from King County. King County cannot take money from KCLS.
Yes: KCLS and King County share governance - The KCLS board and directors are appointed by the King County Council and President. As they both spring same for the same bureaucratic well, you see commonality between them: They're both over-budget, have poor service and they don't listen to the public.
No: The budget for KCLS is entirely separate from King County. King County cannot take money from KCLS.
Yes: KCLS and King County share governance - The KCLS board and directors are appointed by the King County Council and President. As they both spring same for the same bureaucratic well, you see commonality between them: They're both over-budget, have poor service and they don't listen to the public.
What is the alternative?
In this economic downturn, the alternative is simple: Keep our libraries well funded, and wait until the economy recovers and then buy the the things we all desire,but can't afford right now.
Can we reverse our vote later?
Yes, but only in theory. Once we join KCLS, our Renton collection of books will permanently become a part of KCLS, and any new building we make will permanently become a part of KCLS.
Will we have access to more books?
No. We already have access to all KCLS books and resources- visit them, call them, or use your computer and place a hold for anything in their system. If we join KCLS, they will throw away most of Renton's historic collection as keeping older historical books is not in line with their entertainment orientation.
Will KCLS build us new libraries?
No. While KCLS will build libraries for other communities, they have told Renton that we'd have to fund and build our own. Unlike other cities as well., they have also demanded that Renton turn any new buildings over to them in perpetuity.
KCLS Promisses us new lighting, signage and technology. Will we get them?
Probably not anytime soon - KCLS is in a funding crisis right now and is having to slash 10-15% across the board. KCLS is very slow in delivering on their promises: The City of Newcastle has paid for their KCLS library five years ago and KCLS isn't even done with the plans.