The County’s Media and Communications Program Manager Candee Ramos writes the County is logging emails coming to elected Commissioners concerning the future of local libraries, “and will be ready with … data when next steps are taken by the policymakers.”
Ramos says her team is reviewing “existing online chatter surrounding the WC-1 failure.”
The measure to keep two cents of every $100 in assessed property value taxes going directly to the library was voted down in the 2024 election, leading to a petition and concerns of looming reduced library services.
“There does seem to be some indication that people were unaware that the tax was not a tax increase or the impact that losing the allocation would cause. Elsewhere, there is the political aspect of libraries since the introduction of Drag Queen Story Time with the sentiment the library essentially “got what they deserved.” Overall – there is sadness and concern for a potential loss of services and staff,” Ramos wrote in an email cced to County Commissioners and forwarded to Our Town Reno.
An attached document said “the pattern of engagement signifies a community with mixed feelings, with the majority expressing sadness over the situation.”
The measure to extend the previously existing additional funding system for libraries was defeated 51.49% to 48.51% at the ballot box.
The library has a base budget of $12 million and the additional $4.5 million it used to get through this ongoing tax will now be controlled by the Washoe County commission.
In a “negative sentiment and criticism” section at the top of the Washoe County document attached in the email it said “Some discussions showed negative sentiments, especially revolving around the perceived role of libraries in societal issues.”
Our Town Reno reporting, December 2, 2024