Public Involvement in the Funding Solution

• The Library’s funding solution is the result of tremendous community involvement.
• The Library Board relied upon thousands of public comments gathered during 9 “Vision 2010” public meetings, 40 community leader interviews, 1,000 public surveys to define the Library services needed.
• Funding priorities were addressed at a dozen “Great Libraries” community discussions and specific input on funding priorities was gathered from 926 survey respondents.
• A diverse 16-member Community Advisory Committee reviewed the Library’s financial options and recommended that the Library Board place either a 48 or 50 cent lid lift on the spring ballot.
  
  

Community Advisory Commitee

The Kitsap Regional Library (KRL) formed a Community Advisory Committee in late 2006, to help the KRL Board of Trustees assess a variety of library funding-related issues.  The committee’s activities were closely linked with the KRL outreach effort to assess community opinion about Library operations, services and funding issues.

The Committee met monthly in November 2006 - January 2007. Key functions of the Committee included:

• Reviewing current KRL funding status and issues related to how increasing library service costs and demands exceed current revenues;
  
• Providing an assessment of data gathered from, surveys provided to the general public, feedback from community meetings, community leader interviews  and other information as provided; and
  
• Offering specific guidance to the KRL Board of Trustees regarding various budget and funding options, including whether KRL should or should not seek voter approval for a levy lid lift ballot issue in 2007.

Issues discussed at meetings:

Thursday, November 9

• Review KRL funding issues
• Review public opinion survey and town hall meetings
• Review the 2006 Vision 2010 plan
• Review comparison of KRL and other Libraries in the State

Thursday, December 7

• Update 2007 FY budget status
• Discuss funding options connected to specific library services

Thursday, January 11

• Review any addition public comment
• Develop recommendation for Board of Trustees regarding funding options

Members of the Community Advisory Committee attended the January KRL Board of Trustees meeting. The Committee's guidance included a unanimous recommedation in support of increased Library funding. The group encouraged the Board of Trustees to consider asking voters for a levy rate increase to $.48 or $.50 per thousand dollars of assessed value.

KRL Mission Statement:  Kitsap Regional Library serves the community as a center for lifelong learning and a steward of access to stories, information and knowledge

Board of Trustees: Jackie Aitchison, North Kitsap Representative (President); Teresa McDermott, Central Kitsap Representative (Vice President);

Anna Laurie, Bremerton Representative; Gail Mathison, South Kitsap Representaive; Althea Paulson, Bainbridge Island Representative