NCW Libraries addresses library funding, maintenance concerns

WENATCHEE — In response to recent coverage of Mattawa City Council, North Central Washington Libraries is seeking to clarify misunderstandings regarding how the library system operates and receives funding. 

“NCW Libraries is committed to good financial stewardship and to providing robust library services to rural communities across our (five)-county district. As a public organization, transparency is critical to building trust with our community leaders and taxpayers,” said NCW Libraries Communications Manager Amanda Brack in a letter to the Columbia Basin Herald. 

Included in the library district’s response to statements made by Mattawa city officials, Brack clarified that NCW libraries cannot easily increase funding by increasing the library’s levy rate under Washington law; rather, the levy rate can only be increased by a vote of the residents of the district. 

Additionally, NCW Libraries covers its contractual obligations through cost reimbursements to the cities that host library branches, including Mattawa. The rate is set by the library district’s board of trustees under the budgetary limitations NCW Libraries faces.

“NCW Libraries provides a set reimbursement to cities, towns, and communities that have a physical library building. The purpose of the reimbursement, a set rate per square foot, is to offset the city’s costs for providing the library buildings, maintenance, and use,” the NCW Libraries statement said. 

Contracts with such rates have been in place since the 1960s and are still in place and outline that cities and towns cover the cost of the library building, including maintenance such as janitorial services. Otherwise, NCW Libraries covers the cost of staffing, collections, materials, services, resources, technology and other library operations expenses, the district’s statement said.

Brack expressed concern that Mattawa City Attorney Katherine Kenison did not seem to understand the operations of the library district in that Kenison said non-annexed cities don’t pay for the library services they receive while annexed cities do.

To clarify that issue, Brack indicated that only cities and towns incorporated into an intercounty rural library district as defined under state law — or that have contracted with that library district —  have a levy applied via property taxes and services provided to residents under the law.

“Residents of incorporated cities and towns only have access to library services if their municipality annexes in or contracts with NCW Libraries,” Brack said in the statement from NCW Libraries.

As a result, only annexed cities receive services from NCW Libraries. 

Additionally, cities that are not annexed into the district are not reimbursed for use of a library facility, because they do not have a library operated by the district, NCW Libraries’ response indicated.

NCW Libraries said it is possible to de-annex Mattaw and allow the city to leave the district via a vote of the residents; however, that would eliminate vital library services for those living in Mattawa.

“If residents of the City of Mattawa voted to de-annex from the library district, they would no longer be taxed for library service and they would also no longer have access to library services and resources. De-annexation would result in an incredible loss to Mattawa residents. Public libraries provide essential services that build and strengthen communities through enriching programs and resources for all ages,” the NCW Libraries statement read.

The statement also said that the overall benefit provided to smaller communities like Mattawa by participating in a large library district outweighs the expenses. Smaller towns likely would not be able to provide the variety of library services offered by the district due to the cost restrictions.

In response to Kenison’s statements regarding cities she represents — Kenison is a contracted city attorney that serves other municipalities in addition to Mattawa — asking for adjustments to reimbursement rates from NCW Libraries, the library district stated again that the rate is set by the board of trustees to manage the district’s budget.

“The reimbursement rates were never intended to fully cover the cost of maintaining library facilities. Since the 1960’s, cities and towns who provide library buildings have been contractually obligated to cover the cost of the building along with maintenance and use. The NCW Libraries Board of Trustees established the reimbursement rate according to what is fiscally responsible and sustainable for the NCW Libraries budget,” the statement said.

It would be an insurmountable task, beyond the scope or capacity of NCW Libraries, to provide and maintain physical library buildings in every city or town in our (five)-county service area. Rural library service is only possible through partnerships with cities, towns, and communities. Cities provide and maintain buildings, NCW Libraries provides everything else,” the district said in closing its response.