FOLLOWUP: Mayor’s proposed library levy would almost double the expiring one

As previewed here last night, Mayor Katie Wilson has gone public with her proposal for the Seattle Public Library levy’s renewal/expansion, which she wants to send to voters on the August primary ballot. At $410 million over seven years, it’s almost double the $219 million levy that’s expired, which in turn had almost doubled the $123 million levy it followed. From the announcement today:

… The proposed 2026 replacement levy would further critical funding for The Seattle Public Library over seven years, from 2027 through 2033. It would replace the expiring $219.1 million 2019 Library Levy, which currently accounts for one-third of the Library’s total budget.

“Seattle is a city of readers. From toddlers discovering their first stories to seniors finding connection and lifelong learning, our libraries belong to everyone,” said Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “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.”

If voters approve the 2026 Library Levy, it will invest in access, programming, collections, building maintenance, and technology and online services across Seattle’s library system. Key investments include:

-Open hours at all 27 neighborhood branches
-More physical, e-book and audiobooks for readers of every age
-Expanded technology and online services to support learning, job access, and connection
-Building maintenance and capital improvements to care for library spaces citywide
-Additional facility and janitorial resources to keep our libraries safer, cleaner and more welcoming for everyone

“We thank Mayor Wilson for putting forward a levy proposal that reflects community needs and interests and invests in Library open hours, collections, programs, buildings, and technology,” said Chief Librarian Tom Fay. “We look forward to working in partnership with Mayor Wilson and City councilmembers through a public process that will ensure this package is something all Seattle residents can be proud to support in August.”

The proposed 2026 Library Levy proposal will be reviewed by a select committee of the Seattle City Council, which will be chaired by Councilmember Maritza Rivera (District 4) … If the updated package is approved by Council, it will go to a final vote of the people on the August 4, 2026 ballot. Learn more about the proposal at spl.org/2026Levy

The proposal is under the title “Read. Grow. Belong.” Our area has four SPL branches – south to north, they are Southwest (9010 35th SW), High Point (3411 SW Raymond), Delridge (5423 Delridge Way SW), and West Seattle (2306 42nd SW).

George Huxley March 10, 2026 (2:12 pm)

OK, as much as we all want to fund libraries, because accurate information, literacy, being well read, and knowledge are the best weapons against the insanity that’s happening today all over the world, we still would like to know why this levy is four times higher now. Neither salaries, nor book cost have risen that high that fast. Where’s the money going?

K March 10, 2026 (2:40 pm)

It sounds like this is about funding previously unfunded things. Libraries open every day (except holidays), longer hours, more resources inside them, more security, more janitorial staff, more programming, etc.
- Kyle March 10, 2026 (5:40 pm)
  
  The library never met their full promised open hours from the last levy.
CG March 10, 2026 (2:54 pm)

A big part of the answer is that the library gets less and less from the City general fund each budget cycle, so the levy has to make up the difference.
Jake March 10, 2026 (3:28 pm)

We could trim a lot of fat from bloated 300k cop salaries and paying for expensive surveillance cameras and putting that back into education and libraries. Just a wild thought.
- Paul March 10, 2026 (4:18 pm)
  
  The officers making that kind of salary are ones that rake in, insane amounts of overtime. In the past when Seattle was so understaffed, these officers would accept all of the overtime they could get. If Seattle could be staffed appropriately, perhaps the overtime would be reduced, therefore reducing the overtime pay that is claimed.
  - k March 10, 2026 (4:51 pm)
    
    The ones raking in an insane amount of overtime are clearing $400k. It’s not just an understaffing issue. Look at the MOU they created for CARE. They WANT the OT. They WANT all the work. It’s not necessary at all. There would be a lot of OT saved without a single hire if things were staffed logically. That’s before we even get to the cost of the executive bloat at SPD. That Department is SORELY in need of civilian oversight. It’s sad that we keep shifting general fund library money to them (remember when we had rolling library closures at the same time as they were getting 24% raises?) with no accountability whatsoever.
KT March 10, 2026 (7:27 pm)

The article posted all the services it would fund

Neighbor Gal March 10, 2026 (2:13 pm)

Fantastic news! Our libraries are such an intrinsic, interesting & essential part of our community. Hopeful that this will encourage our librarians — so grateful for our West Seattle branch!

Charles Burlingame March 10, 2026 (2:19 pm)

Adjusting for inflation, the new levy is 50% larger than the previous one, a far cry from “almost double.”

Frog March 10, 2026 (2:35 pm)

Funny how politicians talk about “affordability” while expanding taxes much faster than the rate of inflation or rise in incomes. Our taxes increased 11.6% this year already, and only 4.4% of that was due to an alleged increase in property value. Our tax rate went up 7%. The tax donkey is getting tired under the load.
- Foop March 10, 2026 (5:20 pm)
  
  Source please? I pay car tabs, sales tax, and property tax and my taxes did not increase 11% this year my property tax(the amount I pay, not the rate) has gone up maybe 5% since I bought this house in 2022?
  - Frog March 11, 2026 (1:07 pm)
    
    The source is the bill that they sent me, plus some 6th grade math and Excel. Feel free to check any random house in the Alki neighborhood south of Admiral. It’s all public record, available on the county website.
- Del Griffith March 11, 2026 (5:55 am)
  
  It’s called a levy, not a tax.

CeeBee March 10, 2026 (2:21 pm)

I realize this is the first roll-out of information, but I can’t find any links on their webpage that tells me how much additional tax will come from each taxpayer. I’m fully in support of this, but that’s sort of important information for some people. Is it going to be pennies, dollars or a gulp-hard amount?

Libraries4all March 11, 2026 (12:35 pm)

I think on KUOW said additional ~$100 for median homeowner.

KWest Seattle March 10, 2026 (2:25 pm)

I adore our public library but this is actually obscene. Instead of Yes or No on $410 million can we have a lesser amount to vote for?

Jay March 10, 2026 (3:09 pm)

I love our libraries and believe they are one of the few things our city government does well. But a 100% nominal and 50% inflation-adjusted increase in the levy? This means that a levy that started at $122 million in 2012 will be $410 million in 2027. That’s an annualized increase of over 8% during a period when national inflation (2012-2026) has been approximately 2.5% per year. Thus, another egregious example of a local government dominated by politicians with zero concern for any semblance of fiscal discipline or common sense.

PG March 10, 2026 (3:09 pm)

However, my tax bill has nearly doubled in the past 10-15 years, which is a lot faster than inflation.

Dysfunction March 10, 2026 (3:15 pm)

Uh, it is almost double the current levy. You can take into account general inflation after, but the fact is it is almost double. Salaries and wages certainly haven’t gone up that much. Another clear sign that for all the politicians hand wringing on inflation and calling out corporations, local government is the biggest inflation driver. And terrible selling Katie. “Seattle is a city of readers”. That’s all you have? I haven’t been in library in years, and most people access reading material electronically now. Meanwhile, city leaders will next complain about affordability here again. It’s strange people fall for any of this

School Bus Driver March 11, 2026 (6:50 am)

A digital book cost 4 – 6 times as much as a paper book. A newly released hard cover now has a list price of $30.00. This is not a money grab.

K March 10, 2026 (3:27 pm)

I wish it didn’t have to be an all-or-nothing vote. Of course most people would support funding libraries, but it feels like we have no say in how much. Levvy’s just go up, up, up…..far more than the rate of my paycheck does.

KWest Seattle March 10, 2026 (3:47 pm)

Everyone who loves libraries but also feels like this number is unreasonable VOTE NO and then maybe they will come back with a levy amount that is not exorbitant.

Lauren March 10, 2026 (5:51 pm)

I’m sorry to say, but no, that most likely just means libraries lose funding and as a result cut services.
- Neighbor March 11, 2026 (10:23 am)
  
  A city official once told me that there has never been a city levy that didn’t pass, and they count on that continuing. Unfortunately, that’s what has created this cycle of budgeting too little and then asking for a levy rather than making a realistic budget in the first place. I don’t think a “no” vote in protest will result in library cuts. We’d be lucky to get enough no votes to make the city reconsider this method at all.

935 March 10, 2026 (4:09 pm)

Property tax goes up.

Rents go up…Want to talk about an affordability crisis?? Look no further than voter approved levies. I own my house, yet I need to pay the City of Seattle and county of King at least $1,000 a month for the “privilege” of living here. (Oh – this does not include my mortgage….)

k March 10, 2026 (4:55 pm)

I live in a four bedroom house, live in city limits, and pay a third of that, so congratulations on your very expensive house. Of course you pay a lot of taxes on a house in the higher end of the market, lol. If you don’t like the city’s taxes, you can move to White Center, where they’re even higher. No one ever wants to hear that Seattle has one of the lowest tax rates in King County.
- Hahaha March 10, 2026 (6:44 pm)
  
  I do appreciate you responding as though OP isn’t just making this up.
- WS Person March 10, 2026 (9:34 pm)
  
  You do not live in a 4 bedroom house in the city/West Seattle where you only pay 3,600 a yr in property tax. Don’t lie there’s no reason to.
  - k March 11, 2026 (12:16 pm)
    
    Apologies for the confusion, that’s including my Improvement Exemption (forgot I still have a year left on that). Without that, it’s about $500/month for a good-sized house with a yard, and the point still stands. If you’re paying $1000 per month, you are not living in an average home, and people with expensive homes pay more in taxes. Tax bills in Medina run into the millions.
  - Eric1 March 11, 2026 (1:50 pm)
    
    lol I live in a 3 bedroom house, no view, and have a similar tax bill to everyone else as my house and lot is somewhat average. No way you pay $4000 a year as even the land value ($400K+) portion would be about half the tax value. So I don’t know where adding a 4 bedroom home to bare land would reduce it to a third unless you have some special exemption or you live with Oscar the Grouch. No, I am not poor and I care about libraries, but there is a reason the city doesn’t fully fund libraries. They know that they can pass the bill onto the public with a special levy. Much like emergency services, parks, schools… I do appreciate the à la carte system in that I can support things that I believe in; I just wish I didn’t have to fund things I don’t like. But the government is there to provide those services that people generally don’t want to pay for. I just wish they would do that job using only the general funds.
1994 March 10, 2026 (10:46 pm)

Yep, my prop taxes are now $800 monthly for 2026, $9600 yearly . I love the library but I am not sure what additional services they need to provide. The library provides excellent service now! Instead of shooting for more levy funds the city should review their entire budget and live within the existing tax base for a few years. Stop raising taxes for new services.
- Foop March 11, 2026 (12:10 am)
  
  I find that folk who live in homes worth north of a million don’t often lack means and generally don’t utilize the public library as much as folks who don’t have the space or means to access all of the amenities they provide.
  - Kyle March 11, 2026 (7:21 am)
    
    Are you taking surveys of library users by how much their house costs? Or just generalizing and stereotyping people? lol
  - 1994 March 11, 2026 (8:10 pm)
    
    FYI not all homes in Seattle are over a million, mine included, but we are taxed like they are! Annual income for me is way under the average or median for the city, not even 6 figures…..so higher taxes = financial struggle. Often comments say people are 1 paycheck away from being homeless….. when taxes increase faster then wages that is a problem for low earners, or seniors on fixed income that may not qualify for a senior tax break. The city needs to try harder to budget better without hitting the little guy with higher taxes, more levies, higher rates for this and that.

my two cents March 10, 2026 (4:22 pm)

It appears in past years there would be much less debate and question. Vagueness of the deliverables by SPL doesn’t necessarily create much enthusiasm. Given the economic situation will be interesting to see how the vote tallies end up.

Mia March 10, 2026 (5:11 pm)

You have to stop with the tax increases.

Renewing an expiring levy is one thing but this was my biggest fear with Katie Wilson. Her lack of experience in politics & her lack of knowledge in managing a city budget is now front & center.

Requesting a tax levy, a TAX INCREASE is the easiest thing you could possibly do. It literally takes no thought (or management skill) to say, “let’s propose a tax levy”.

How about you come up with 3 other options BEFORE you ask households to give more money to the City of Seattle.

What other options did you have, Katie? Name 3 other options … or was there only one, a new tax levy, gee that was so easy I’ll do this again next year.

WSB March 10, 2026 (10:17 pm)

The library levy is not something she invented. She expanded it for the renewal proposal, but so did the mayor in 2019, and the mayor in 2012 – before that, according to SPL’s online history, they raised extra money via a bond measure approved by voters in 1998.

wander March 10, 2026 (7:09 pm)

these people have no restraint. all they do is tax, tax, tax…

Little One March 10, 2026 (7:27 pm)

Love our library branch, frequent visitor, and support most levies. Not sure I understand the need here though. Hmm

Mike March 10, 2026 (7:51 pm)

Reminiscing for my KCLS days…

Rob March 10, 2026 (7:51 pm)

Little known fact by seattles tax policy drove out jeff Bezo. Believe it or not but is a fact cost the city an state 980 million dollars a year. That’s just the tip of the ice burg.

N March 10, 2026 (9:49 pm)

Love the library but getting towards the end of our ability to handle more tax increases in our family.

No this is utterly ridiculous March 10, 2026 (10:46 pm)

Does she comprehend that we are in an economic shortage of jobs, affordable houses and now with the Iran war, increased fuel cost which will ripple effect.

Expand online offerings that students or anyone with a device can go download for free at the library, reduce or keep the same amount of hard copies currently and stop funding everything at every branch. Shut down branches that have low foot traffic.

School Bus Driver March 11, 2026 (6:54 am)

Once again, online resources are not free. The cost of databases has increased dramatically in the past decade. So much so that KCLS, for example, is offering fewer of them to students than before. Democracy is not free.
- Canton March 11, 2026 (9:48 am)
  
  How much has the cost gone up for online resources? In detail.

22blades March 11, 2026 (1:23 am)

I wish the city would better utilize the libraries like Ballard that has a mini city hall. We used to have one by the junction. Personally, I’d rather handle an issue at a desk with a face instead of a phone tree abyss. Press #️⃣ to return to the main menu…

WSB March 11, 2026 (1:37 am)

The “mini city hall” – Neighborhood Service Center – is still at Southwest Teen Life Center/Southwest Pool. Passports, utility bills, office hours with your city councilmember …

anonyme March 11, 2026 (5:56 am)

First, the library did away with fines as a reward for the irresponsible. Typically Seattle. Second, like most of the other levies, there are hidden costs that have nothing to do with books or traditional library functions. Social services are being rolled in, including free meals at the library and librarians doing the work of social workers. Taxpayers are being duped. If Wilson is proposing such a bloated library levy, I can just imagine what’s coming with other expiring levies.

natinstl March 11, 2026 (8:45 am)

Seattleites like to tax themselves out of existence so I’m sure it will pass.

BMC March 11, 2026 (9:57 am)

Love our libraries…. But why do we need so many buildings… 3 in WSeattle? Could get by either way 2? Save expenses that way…

WSB March 13, 2026 (6:36 pm)

Four.

Admiral2009 March 11, 2026 (3:10 pm)

I wish the City would require landlords to identify the tax component of the rent for full transparency.

Enough already, the City is more likely than not going to use the levy money to supplant existing City library funding to pay for items the taxpayers are less likely to support.

Please send a clear message and VOTE NO on this levy!

MKN March 11, 2026 (6:07 pm)

If you are 62 or older (or disabled)and make less than $84,000 a year, you can qualify for property tax relief in King County. My taxes got reduced from $4700 to under $1900 per year. Google King County tax relief or check the back of the little white card they send you. You can deduct medical expenses and other qualifying deductions as well. They say only 1 in 100 people who qualify actually apply for it. Check it out and tell your friends!

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