Seattle Select Committee on the Library Levy Approves Amended $489M Levy Package for August 2026 Ballot on April 8, 2026

The Select Committee on the Library Levy met on April 8, 2026, at 9:34 a.m. in the Council Chamber to consider Council Bill 121181, a seven-year regular property tax levy for the Seattle Public Library. The mayor had proposed a $410 million levy, but after hearing from 17 public speakers and debating 13 amendments, the committee voted 7–0 to recommend passage of the bill as amended, increasing the total to approximately $489 million. The measure will go to the full City Council on April 14, 2026, for final consideration before being placed on the August 4, 2026, ballot.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jessica Lucas (teen services librarian): Supported the levy and amendments, noting that 30% of library salaries are levy-funded; urged additional support staff, working door locks, and seismic safety.
• Brian Lawrence (CEO, Seattle Public Library Foundation): Urged passage of the amendments, stating they represent about 10 years of fundraising and will leverage private support.
• Peter Hasegawa (IBEW Local 46): Supported amendments for cooling systems and climate resilience, referencing the 2021 heat dome.
• Betsy Cluck Kyle (former children's staff, District 6): Supported Councilmember Foster’s $10 million amendment for Central Library renovation, highlighting the need for modernized space for children and families.
• Pepe Montero (poet, Seattle City of Literature): Supported amendments for collections and digital peak picks, calling reading a “civic act” and linking library strength to Seattle’s UNESCO City of Literature designation.
• Anne Repas (emeritus chair, Library Foundation Board): Encouraged generous funding for library collections.
• Shira Rosen (co-executive director, Literacy Source, District 5): Thanked Councilmembers Foster and Juarez for an amendment expanding multilingual programming; noted that a Carnegie grant funding English classes expires in July 2027 and that demand far exceeds capacity.
• Lily She (District 1): Supported the seismic retrofit amendment, especially for West Seattle branch (oldest operating library in Seattle, opened 1910).
• Christiana Delarusso (District 6): Supported Councilmember Strauss’s ADA accessibility and elevator/escalator replacement amendment, citing broken elevators at Greenwood and Central libraries.
• Monish Shah (District 4, Friends of the Seattle Public Library board): Supported the amendment to expand Peak Picks to digital books, highlighting popularity of both Peak Picks and Libby.
• Brian Callanan (Seattle Channel host): Supported amendment 8 to fund library programming on Seattle Channel ($2.1M over levy life); noted the channel’s 5.5 million annual video views and earlier funding cuts.
• Roberta McMichael (District 5): Supported the Seattle Channel amendment, calling it a good collaboration.
• Kathleen Southwick (District 7): Supported the community resource specialist expansion amendment (amendment 3), citing her experience with Crisis Connections and the need for on-the-ground specialists to help vulnerable patrons.
• Colleen McLear (neighborhood resident): Opposed additional amendments, arguing the $410 million levy already represents a 50% increase and that adding more will hurt seniors and veterans on fixed incomes; urged passing the bill as-is.
• Margaret Butler (artist, small business owner, District 6): Supported the levy and amendments for collections and digital peak picks; noted long waits for digital materials and personal hotspots.
• David Haynes: Supported the Central Library renovation amendment and called for better space design to address noise and behavioral issues.

Discussion Items

• Chair Rivera opened by stating her support for the original $410 million levy but cautioned that adding amendments would leave only $230 million in “levy capacity” for future levies (housing, transportation, FEP) and exacerbate Seattle’s affordability crisis. She stressed the importance of relying on the city’s economic forecasts and noted a projected $150 million budget deficit for the current year.
• Councilmember Foster moved amendments 1, 2, 3, 12, and 13 (on behalf of Councilmember Saka). She argued for targeted investments in the Central Library renovation ($10M), multilingual programs, community resource specialists ($4.06M), digital skilling, and Black history curation.
• Councilmember Juarez co-sponsored amendment 2 (multilingual programming) and supported many amendments but voted against amendments 4 and 5 due to fiscal responsibility concerns. She listed Seattle’s multiple existing taxes and levies, warning against overburdening taxpayers.
• Councilmember Lynn sponsored amendment 4 ($15M for HVAC, cooling, deferred maintenance, branch electrification) and spoke in favor of libraries as “bulwarks against democracy crumbling.” He argued that delay would increase costs.
• Councilmember Rink sponsored amendments 5, 6, and 7 (seismic retrofit, collections, digital peak picks) and supported amendments 1 and 4. She cited economic uncertainty from federal policies and climate change, arguing that capital investments now are cost-effective and provide community safety.
• Councilmember Strauss sponsored amendments 8 and 9 (Seattle Channel programming $2.1M, ADA accessibility $8.2M). He argued the amendments represent a “two-way door” that can be adjusted later if economic conditions change, contrasting with the “one-way door” of the mayor’s original package. He also criticized Washington State’s “upside-down tax code” for limiting the city’s levy capacity.
• Councilmember Hollingsworth expressed appreciation for the debate and supported most amendments, but abstained on amendment 13 (Black Legacy Institute) because it named a specific contractor outside the library system.

Key Outcomes

• Amendment 1 (Foster – Central Library renovation, +$10M): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 2 (Foster/Juarez – multilingual programs, no increase): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 3 (Foster/Hollingsworth/Strauss – community resource specialists, +$4.06M): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 4 (Lynn – HVAC, cooling, deferred maintenance, electrification, +$15M): Adopted 5–2 (Juarez and Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 5 (Rink – seismic retrofit, +$15M): Adopted 4–2–1 (Juarez and Rivera opposed; Hollingsworth abstained).
• Amendment 6 (Rink/Strauss – physical and digital collections, +$8.4M): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 7 (Rink – digital Peak Picks, +$2.5M): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 8 (Strauss – Seattle Channel programming, +$2.1M): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 9 (Strauss – ADA accessibility, elevators/escalators, +$8.2M): Adopted 6–1 (Rivera opposed).
• Amendment 12 (Saka/Foster – digital skilling for teens, no increase): Adopted 7–0.
• Amendment 13 (Saka/Foster – Black Legacy Institute programming, no increase): Adopted 3–0–4 (yes: Foster, Juarez, Lynn; abstain: Strauss, Rink, Hollingsworth, Rivera).
• Final Vote on CB 121181 as amended: Approved 7–0.

The amended bill will be transmitted to the full City Council for a final vote on April 14, 2026. If approved, the proposition will appear on the August 4, 2026, ballot as a seven-year regular property tax levy with a total estimated value of approximately $489 million, an increase of about $79 million over the mayor’s original proposal.