Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson proposes $410 million levy to sustain libraries through 2033, replacing the expiring 2019 measure.
SEATTLE — Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is asking voters to turn the page on library funding with a new $410 million property tax levy that could shape the future of the city’s library system for years to come.
“The proposed levy furthers Seattle’s commitment to a world-class library system,” Wilson said in a press conference at the Central Library Tuesday afternoon.
If approved, the seven-year levy provide supplementary funding for the Seattle Public Library from 2027 through 2033. It would almost double the the current one, replacing the $219 million library levy approved by voters in 2019, which passed with 76% support and currently accounts for about one-third of the library’s total budget.
“Investing in our libraries means investing in every community member — and in the shared public spaces that help our city learn, grow, imagine and thrive together,” Wilson said.
The proposal aims to keep all 27 neighborhood branches open, expand book and digital collections, improve technology, and address maintenance and safety needs across the system.
Many bookworms at the Central Library said the investment is worth it.
“The library means everything to me,” said Barbara McHarg, a longtime Seattle resident. “It provides so many services to Seattle.”
Under the proposal, a typical homeowner with a property valued at $872,000 would pay about $163 in the first year — roughly 19 cents for every $1,000 of assessed value.
“The city gets a lot of bang for the buck it invests in libraries,” McHarg said. “I think it’s great — the library deserves all the money it can get.”
If approved by the Seattle City Council, the proposal would head to voters on the August primary election ballot.
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