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Town's library legislative lobbying plows ahead

Susan Macek | Feb 20, 20190
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Eight representatives from the Town of La Conner, Skagit County, La Conner Regional Library and La Conner Library Foundation spent last Thursday in Olympia at the state Capitol, seeking continued financial support for the new La Conner Library project.

The group included Mayor Ramon Hayes, town administrator Scott Thomas, county commissioner Ron Wesen, La Conner Library board members Jean Markert and Bill Taylor, La Conner Library Foundation board member Denise Willup, library director Joy Neal and foundation director Susan Macek. Throughout the day, we were warmly received by our District 10 legislators: Sen. Barbara Bailey, Rep. Norma Smith and Rep. Dave Paul, and by District 40 Rep. Debra Lekanoff.

District 10 legislators have led support for the library project since the library’s first request for state funding in 2017. Their leadership resulted in a $500,000 construction grant for the library in the 2017-2019 state capital budget. To access this grant the library needs to demonstrate that the balance of funds for the project have been secured or pledged by June 30, or request a re-appropriation.

Finalizing the funding package this year is critical for the library project to proceed. As local fundraising continues to reach almost $1.2 million, we have requested the State maintain its investment in our project by re-appropriating the $500,000 grant. We also have requested an additional $700,000 in the 2019-2021 state capital budget. This would bring the state’s total financial contribution to the new library to $1.2 million, leaving a balance of $1.34 million to raise by the end of this year. The library is working with several potential major donors to obtain the funds we need.

How can you help?

Your voice matters. Please take a few minutes to send our District 10 legislators an email or a letter thanking them for their past support and asking for their leadership to gain approval for additional state funding this year.

A sample letter with email and addresses is available on the La Conner Library Foundation website, http://www.laconnerlibraryfoundation.org. Look under “News & Events” for “Your Voice Matters!”.

Questions? Call the Foundation office at 360-466-3352.

Mayor Hayes’ assessment: see sidebar

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In an interview, Mayor Ramon Hayes emphasized that the library project is at a critical stage. “We have momentum,” he said. Getting district state legislators to sponsor $700,000 in a new appropriations bill and gaining an extension for the $500,000 committed in 2018 is the next step.

Hayes is hopeful for a joint request from Reps. Dave Paul and Norma Smith. “Both of them are committed to the library,” he said. He called 2019 “a tight, tight budget year with so many requests. How are we going to make this work?”

He praised Senator Barbara Bailey as a “staunch supporter” and called Rep. Debra Lekanoff “a tremendous asset to the state legislature.” Hayes noted that Lekanoff “has long ties to this community and cares about this community. She will support the library.”

His assessment: “The $700,000 new appropriation would be a continuation of the success that has already happened. It would attract the remaining partners that are needed for it to be built.”

He praised residents, businesses and institutions in the library district who have contributed $1.2 million dollars to date.

“The private money contribution is extraordinary for a library district of its size,” Hayes said. “The state likes to see skin in the game. No other project or community in recent years has seen as much skin in the game as the library project.”

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