Alternatives to the tax increase
Summary
The council walked through — and largely rejected — other funding paths: user fees (state law bars them for core services), general-fund subsidies (called bad policy), reserves, donations, and cuts like exiting the book consortium or trimming hours, which together fall about $48,000 short of the gap.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Aug 18, 2026.
Impact analysis
All identified cuts combined save about $125,000 — still short of the $173,000 needed.
Taxpayers would save $28.49 a year if cuts were made instead — but at the cost of services and regional partnerships.
Library users would face longer waits, lost consortium access, and eliminated programs if the cuts route were taken.
Mentions & discussions (5)
City Council — August 18, 2026
After last week's truth-in-taxation vote, the mayor walked through corrections: no referendum was filed, library staff have received merit raises, no 35% public safety fee hike is planned, and PI rates aren't set yet. Council Member Rice, the lone no vote, defended her Canyons District comparison and her fiscal concerns.
Truth in Taxation Hearing. — August 11, 2026
The council walked through — and largely rejected — other funding paths: user fees (state law bars them for core services), general-fund subsidies (called bad policy), reserves, donations, and cuts like exiting the book consortium or trimming hours, which together fall about $48,000 short of the gap.
Planning Commission. — June 30, 2026
The council adopted an interim budget with a proposed tax increase for the library. Residents can weigh in at meetings July 27 and August 6, with a final hearing August 11.
City Council — June 16, 2026
The council is weighing a $171,600 library tax increase — about $27 a year on the average home — to fund library staffing for the TLC consortium, programs, and Libby e-books. Final vote comes August 11 after truth-in-taxation notices.
City Council. — May 19, 2026
A Friends of the Library volunteer shared stories of the library's impact and urged the council to keep the proposed small tax increase so library services — unchanged revenue in 18 years — keep pace with inflation.
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