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City government works for the people of Renton. I'll help explain the inner workings of your government, let you know what the City Council is up to and, occasionally, weigh in with my own opinion.

The future of Renton’s library

July 31st, 2009 at Fri, 31st, 2009 at 5:30 pm by Dean Radford

Likely, next year, Renton residents will vote on whether to annex to the King County Library System. It would mean the end of a highly regarded municipal library system that is now in need of an infusion of cash for much-needed improvements. Monday night (7 p.m., chambers, City Hall) the City Council will take its final vote on an ordinance that asks the King County Council to place the issue on the ballot in February.  The same request must come from the KCLS Board of Trustees, which will meet on the matter later. The council seems highly inclined to annex. Council member Marcie Palmer has grave doubts about the idea. The political  battle will be fought starting this fall.  In the end, it’s up to Renton’s voters. Now, it’s important that the City Council and the KCLS board give voters their chance to make the final decision.

Dean Radford Hi. I am editor of the Renton Reporter. Prior to taking on that big responsibility, I was a reporter and held a number of editing positions at the King County Journal for many years. You can visit us at the Renton Reporter office, 200 Mill Ave. S., on the ground floor. dradford@rentonreporter.com

More articles by Dean Radford >
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  • Myturn
    The Renton council played a good play, but has lost touch with the residents of Renton with the majority of the speakers against the annexing by 92% against the Renton Libraries annexing to KCLS.
    Councilmember Parker’s speech showed why residents showed up to the meeting, he forgot that he was voted in to office to make Smart decisions for the tax paying citizens of Renton.
    All council members followed the same BS one at a time.
    The citizen who spoke against the Prop 1 should be running for Mayor of Renton. He made more sense then our council members.
    Vote No No on Prop.1
  • brookside
    My family has lived in Renton since 1963 and have always supported, used and enjoyed our libraries. I have read as much information on the proposed vote on 2/9/2010as I could find. I feel that the following points should be considered: 1 - the citizens of Renton will continue to pay into the city coffers no matter what; 2 - if the vote passes we will then be paying an additional property tax to KCLS (that will never to away) up to possibly $.50 per thousands (even if it doesn't come until 2011); 3 - we will be required to pay for the new building(s) and THEN give them to KCLS. Why, lets keep things the way they are and we will all have the best of both worlds. Yes, we will have to put dollars into our libraries but at least they will still be our libraries, which by the way are the best in the area. I say NO to the vote on 2/9/2010.
  • johnbe
    I attended an informational meeting yesterday and learned some interesting things about this issue. If the Renton Public Libraries are annexed by the King County Library System, there will be an impact for the residents of the City of Renton. There will be a tax increase. In addition to the $0.26 per $1000 of your assessed property value that is already being paid to support the Renton Public Libraries, there will be an added increase of up to $0.42 per $1000 which King County currently collects to support KCLS libraries. Also, Renton residents will pay for and build a new KCLS library building and will continue to pay indefinitely the 0.26/1000 to maintain the library buildings. I would also expect residents of Unincorporated King County to see an increase of their Library line item on their property taxes to support the paychecks of the additional KCLS employees that will needed to staff the 2 libraries. Why will new KCLS employees be needed? Because the current City Of Renton library employees will be history. For more information, go to http://www.VoteNoTilYouKnow.com .
  • RentonDave
    First I would like to say thank you to the Council for letting the Renton city residents vote on this important decision. I would like to note that in the 40+ years that I have lived in this area (spread over 50+ years), I have seen both library systems grow and change. Both systems have both thier good and bad points. I just want to note that for Renton to continue to have a top class Library system then one or the other of the following needs to happen. 1st possiblilty is that Renton infuse hugh amounts of funds into the Library system to bring it upto standards for the use and enjoyment of all Renton residents. The other option is to annex to King County Library System. The biggest problem that I can see with Renton keeping its own Library system is that when funds are needed elsewhere then it has been the Library to lose.
    I think the best oppertunity we have of have a world class library system is to annex to KCLS.
    David L. McCammon
    Benson Hill area of Renton
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