Renew Washoe Libraries Resolution advances to general election ballot

Voters will decide whether to extend a county allocation dedicated to acquiring, constructing,
improving, maintaining, and operating the Washoe County Library System. On June 18, the Board of County Commissioners approved the “Renew Washoe Libraries Resolution,” which authorized a question regarding extending the allocation to appear on this year’s General Election ballot. This is a continuation of an existing tax override. It did not and does not raise or lower taxes. It tells Washoe County to give a percentage of taxes already collected directly to the Washoe County Library.

This tax override was first created in 1994. Library Director Martha Gould had the vision to enhance the Washoe County Library System by developing a tax override supporting Library improvements. This initiative directed the county to give the library system two cents from every $100 in assessed property value in the county. With these funds, the library system planted the seeds of growth for the next 30 years.

The fund helped build Northwest Reno Library, South Valleys Library, Incline Village Library, and Spanish Springs Library. It enabled Washoe libraries to weather the Great Recession and other economic downturns. More recently, it funded renovations at North Valleys, Downtown Reno, Northwest Reno, Sparks, and Sierra View Libraries.

Now, 30 years later, this allocation is set to expire. If Washoe County had not passed the initiative in 1994, many of the beautiful, beloved libraries in our community, including the South Valleys, Northwest Reno, and Spanish Springs Libraries, would not exist. A renewal of the allocation will ensure that these libraries continue to thrive.



https://thisisreno.com/2024/07/renew-washoe-libraries-resolution-advances-to-general-election-ballot-sponsored/