Lake Stevens Library bond misses 60-percent

It looks like the Lake Stevens community won’t be getting a new library.

“In 2017 and again this year, most voters said the community needs a new library, but the library bond measure didn’t meet the required threshold for passing,” said Jonalyn Woolf-Ivory, Sno-Isle Libraries Executive Director.
Election results show 50.81 percent of voters approving a bond measure to build a new library. The measure needs at least 60 percent approval and a minimum voter turnout of 2,792 ballots cast. As of Feb. 14, 7,013 ballots had been counted. Election results are scheduled to be certified Feb. 23.

“Although disappointed with the results of this election, we want to thank the community for its continued use of their library,” Woolf-Ivory said. “We are committed to continue providing library services to the Lake Stevens community.”
Assuming the ballot-count trend continues, the bond measure would fail and the Lake Stevens Library Capital Facility Area (LCFA) taxing district approved by voters in 2017 would be dissolved. State law allows only two tries at a bond measure once an LCFA is approved. A similar bond measure was on the 2017 ballot. That measure also received a majority of support from voters at 66 percent approval, but not enough ballots were returned to validate the election.
“We want to thank all who have been so committed to the community’s vision for a new library,” Woolf-Ivory said. “We will closely review the results of this election before deciding on next steps.”

The ballot measure called for up to $17 million in bond sales to finance a new 20,000 square foot library. The new facility would have been on property previously purchased by the library district near 99th Avenue NE and Market Place in the Chapel Hill area.

The current Lake Stevens Library building on Main Street is owned by the City of Lake Stevens. It is on property the city envisions for redevelopment as part of the Downtown Subarea Plan. The Chapel Hill property purchased by the library district for the new library is adjacent to property owned by the city. City and library officials are collaborating on a joint-use plan. The properties are part of the city’s Lake Stevens Center Subarea Plan.