Residents across the borough have access to city library services, but people outside city limits have to pay additional property taxes for it. That money goes to the city, which owns and operates the library.
Some people are speaking out against paying higher property taxes for city-owned services despite living outside city limits.
The costs to run Ketchikan’s public library are higher than ever. Library Director Pat Tully said they’re asking the borough for more money than previous years because of rising costs.
“The library’s mission has not changed,” Tully said. “But the way we fulfill that mission is changing and must continue to do so in order to meet the needs and interests of the residents of Ketchikan.”
The borough has been making annual payments to the city library for over 40 years through a funding agreement. In exchange for those payments, the library is obligated to provide library services for people across the island.
The payment amounts change and are based on population estimates and budget appropriations. The amount of borough contribution is calculated based on the population of non-city residents.
Now, the borough would have to increase property taxes for people outside city limits in order to afford its contribution under the agreement.
At an assembly meeting earlier this month, a handful of people spoke in favor of terminating the agreement. They prefaced that they were not against the library, but against how non-city residents are taxed to fund it.
Eric Simon, who lives south of town, told the assembly that “everyone needs a seat at the table” when it comes to library funding. He said non-city residents have no say in the library budget, and believes a renegotiation could improve the process.
“I am not for defunding the library, but I do want a say in how property tax money is spent, and I am asking that you use every tool available to renegotiate before increasing our taxes,” Simon said.
Simon also said the city library is operating on the assumption that they’ll receive 40% of their funding from non-city residents. Another person who spoke in favor of the agreement termination said she’s on a fixed income and is worried additional taxes will drive her out of Ketchikan.
Nearly 20 people took to the podium during the citizen comment period of the meeting. Most of them wanted to keep the funding agreement as-is.
“The library is not a luxury, it’s critical infrastructure,” said homeschool educator Serge Ballif. He said with two schools closing in the district, some families may resort to homeschooling options. He said the library is critical to those families.
“Many families are struggling to afford food, rent and healthcare,” Ballif said. “But that’s precisely why the library matters so much – it’s free to those families. It’s one of the only true, free resources we offer every resident inside the city and out.”
Ballif also said the library is part of what brought him to Ketchikan. Others who spoke against the agreement termination highlighted the library’s programming and services, array of book options and the need for taxes to fund services.
The assembly postponed voting at that special meeting after assembly member Rodney Dial asked via email the agenda item be moved to a regular meeting. He was concerned whether it was appropriate to discuss the item at a meeting “primarily called due to the urgent and time-sensitive school district spending authority.” Dial indicated he had travel plans prior to the special meeting’s scheduling, and was late to the meeting.
The borough has sought to negotiate a new library funding agreement with the city for about two years. The assembly in 2024 asked borough staff for help, but they couldn’t come to an agreement. It was discussed again last fall and this spring to no avail.
At a meeting later this month, assembly member Jaimie Palmer said she doesn’t want to defund the library. She does want to take a closer look at the agreement.
“All good things need reflection and scrutiny, and it’s time,” Palmer said. “We’re not saying we’re not funding the library, there’s nothing in their text that says that, it’s just coming to the table and reworking our agreement and giving staff the opportunity to negotiate.”
The agreement hasn’t been renegotiated since 2018.
Most of the library budget goes toward personnel costs. Assembly member Kathy Bolling said if people are cut, services are cut, and now isn’t the time to mess with a system that works.
So, why at a time when our schools are just bare bones that we are going to imperil another institution? I don’t see the advantage of it,” Bolling said.
Bolling also cautioned against pointing fingers at the city for needing more money, because the borough’s budget has also been steadily increasing in recent years.
The vote to renegotiate library funding comes just days after Ketchikan’s school board approved a budget with deep cuts to library services, leaving only one district librarian. Librarians across the community have argued at public meetings that neither city libraries or school libraries will be able to function without proper staff.
The assembly approved to terminate the agreement with the city with a vote of 5-2. Assembly members Kathy Bolling and Dan Ortiz voted no.
The assembly directed borough staff to research alternatives and provide analysis of the agreement before the end of the fiscal year on July 1. The agreement will be terminated at the end of this year.
If they don’t come to an agreement, people living outside city limits may lose access to library services.
