The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Neighbors United for Progress (NUP), a political action committee in Dayton, has produced a booklet in response to the effort by citizens sponsoring Proposition 2 to dissolve the Columbia County Rural Library District. Authored by Tanya Patton and Diane Longanecker, both of Dayton, the booklet provides information about the history of Dayton's Public Library and the creation of the Columbia County Rural Library District. It also includes the official wording of the proposition for the November 7, 2023, ballot.

Proposition No. 2

"Dissolving the Columbia County Rural Library District. Pursuant to a petition of voters per RCW 27.12.320, the Board of Trustees of the Columbia County Rural Library District have adopted a resolution to dissolve the District. Library services provided by the District would cease, all books and other printed material would be sent to the State Library, and all other property would be disposed of at the direction of the Board of Trustees. Should the Columbia County Rural Library District be so dissolved?"

The booklet, titled "Keep Our Columbia County Library," was created by NUP to aid voters in making informed decisions, provide background information, and answer frequently asked questions" concerning the issue. The group is mailing copies of the booklet to the registered voters in the unincorporated area of Columbia County.

A recent interview with Patton expanded on the information provided in the booklet, along with a brief history of the public library and the creation of the CCLRD.

What is the Columbia County Rural Library District (CCRLD)?

The CCRLD is a tax district formed in 2005 by Columbia County voters residing in unincorporated areas outside the city limits of Dayton and Starbuck. The voters allowed the CCRLD to levy up to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The Library Board has never requested the maximum levy. The tax money goes directly to the CCRLD to provide library services to the citizens of Columbia County.

Why was the Library District created?

"In the early 2000's, the city supported the library at what I would call the bread and water level," says Patton. "The library was only open 20 hours a week. There was no money to buy books."

The library had been funded exclusively by the city's general fund since opening in 1937. Residents in the county's unincorporated areas enjoyed free library service for 65 years and were never asked to pay for the services they received.

In 1999, Washington voters passed Tim Eyman's Initiative 695, reducing all vehicle license tabs to $30. The resulting loss of income to municipalities forced the City of Dayton to cut its budget by 20% from the library and pool budgets to ensure it could continue providing basic infrastructure and services. The libraries and pool became non-essential services.

"God bless the Friends of the Library," says Patton. "In the early 2000s, we went to them and said, we need your help. The library is in danger of closing. So, they went to the people of Dayton and said, 'Hey, they just cut the city budget, and we need your help to keep the library open.' Over the next several years, they raised some $30,000."

City Councilmember at the time, Craig George, was the first to suggest the idea of a library district to provide improved and stable funding. He and Patton and a small group of other concerned citizens researched the concept of a library district and formed the basis for a campaign. The proposition to voters promised "More books, more hours, more technology, for 21st Century library service."

In 2005, Columbia County voters approved the measure to create the rural library district.

"They stepped up and agreed to pay a new tax to ensure stable and improved funding for the library," says Patton. "They agreed that the community needed and deserved an improved public library with stable funding."

Do Dayton residents pay taxes to support the

library?

Yes. Voters within the City of Dayton elected to annex into the CCRLD in 2009.

"That was always the plan," says Patton. "The city agreed that once the (taxing) district was up and running, they would put it to city voters."

The annexation measure was approved by Dayton voters by a wide margin. As a result, taxpayers in Dayton pay the same levy rate to fund the library as the rural county taxpayers. The city transferred ownership of the Dayton Memorial Library building, trust income, and the library's collection to the CCRLD as part of the annexation agreement. Before the annexation, the city contributed funding to the CCRLD from the city's budget for the use of the library through an interlocal aggreement.

The City of Starbuck opted not to be annexed into the library district.

What does the current library budget look like?

On the back pages of the booklet is a budget summary for the CCRLD's fiscal year 2022, including a breakdown of operation cost, income, expenses, and the reserve fund.

In 2022, the levy provided $418,721 for the library budget. Other income, in the form of grants, donations, and interest income, amounted to $33,915, for a total of $452,636.

According to the booklet, $395,016 was spent in 2022. With the surplus added, the year-end reserve fund was $332,400. The fund consists of long-term investments for capital and unplanned expenses and cash carried forward to pay monthly bills.

Patton said the library employs three full-time staff, including the Director, and three part-time staff to manage programs on two floors. The two-floor design requires at least three staff during operating hours. Operating expenses cover the library for six days, or 41 hours, of operation per week for all services provided.

What will happen if voters approve Proposition 2?

Despite the city of Dayton's annexing into the Library District, state law stipulates that only the voters who formed the district may dissolve the District.

"If a majority votes 'yes' to dissolve the district, the library will close, and all library services will be eliminated," says Patton.

The annexation agreement with the CCRLD stipulates that the ownership of the building, fixtures, equipment of the building, and the remaining pre-annexation collection will revert to the City of Dayton. According to Patton, this includes all improvements made to the building since 2009 which were extensive.

However, all books and printed materials purchased with CCRLD tax funds would become property of the Washington State Library, as directed by state law (RCW 27.12.320), and sent to that state institution near Olympia. All other property belonging to the Library District, such as computers and furniture, would be disposed of at the direction of the Library District's Board of Trustees as directed by state law.

The three private trusts created to benefit a public library in the county would revert to the city. The City of Dayton would receive the interest should the city decide to reopen a public library. However, the amount of principal in the three trusts, invested in CD's or other similar vehicles would not earn enough income for even a part-time position.

When asked at the September 13, 2023, Dayton City Council meeting if the city would reopen and run a public library should the CCRLD be dissolved by the voters; the mayor said he and the council had not discussed the issue and were waiting for information on income from the trusts and what remains of the pre-annexation collection. Mayor Zac Weatherford said if the city did reopen the library, it would not have the funds or staff to offer the same level of service as the CCRLD.

Is the library legacy worth keeping?

According to a brief history on the CCRLD website, the library in Dayton began with members of The Draper Self-Culture Club, later named the Elizabeth Forrest-Day Club, who decided to establish a reading room in Dayton. Members of this women's self-improvement club believed that a public library was essential to improving the quality of life of area citizens.

The club began fundraising in 1919, bought the property, and eventually turned the deed and the funds over to the City of Dayton, which completed building the Dayton Memorial Library as a Public Works Project in 1937. Over the years, the library has successfully handled maintenance challenges, financial hardships, staffing and management issues, and ADA compliance. With secure funding and dedicated leadership from the volunteer Rural Library Board, the CCRLD is the 21st-century library service the rural library district supporters promised in 2005.

Patton said, "A library is more than just books. It's a common place for people in the community, no matter who you are." She continued, "It becomes part of the social contract, where everyone is welcome, and it's a safe place to be, to gather together, to learn, and to grow."

The best way to learn about the Columbia County Library is to visit and meet the Director and staff. The library is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday–10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday–12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday–10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and closed on Sunday.

Columbia County Library, 111 South Third Street, Dayton, Washington.

(At the time of printing, the Columbia County Superior Court was scheduled to hear a case filed by NUP to enjoin the county's auditor's office from placing Proposition 2 on the ballot. Results of that hearing will be posted as "breaking news" on "The Times" website as soon as they are released.)