Laurie Orton, San Juan Island Library Director

The voters’ pamphlet statement “against” the Library’s Proposition #1 and recent claims about staff salaries contain a good deal of misinformation, and I would like to set the record straight. Voters can then make up their own minds.

Library staff salaries are on a 5-step scale based on policy set by the Trustees, with 5% merit increases between four steps. Afterward, raises are limited to 1% per year. When the director or staff person leaves their position, the salary is reset to Step 1.

The board of trustees may approve a discretionary annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). Historically, it’s based on the regional Consumer Price Index over the 12 preceding months. COLAs approved from 2019 – 2023 were 3.5, 3.0, 2.4, 3.4, and 5% (even though the latter average CPI growth was 8.4%). These reasonable practices allow the library to retain trained and knowledgeable staff.

Levy budget projections found at https://www.sjlib.org/levylidlift/ list a hypothetical 5% COLA across 10 years, as a placeholder. They do not expect CPI increases to continue at this rate, but conservatively, they must plan for a worst-case scenario. As inflation eases, budgets will be based on actual conditions, and they expect COLAs will return to the range of 2.5-3.5%, extending the life of the Reserve Fund.

The statement that neglect during the freeze in December 2021 resulted in the flooding of the Spring Street building is false. Since the property purchase, a part-time caretaker cares for the property five days a week. He drained the domestic water lines 1 ½ days before the freeze and last checked on the building the afternoon of the freeze. The freeze occurred that night in the emergency fire sprinkler system connected to the town’s water main. No building owners were expected to drain fire suppression systems and over 100 structures sustained damage.

Mr. Meyerott says that insurance paid 2.5 million dollars for the damage and that instead of paying off the purchase bond, the money went into reserves. This is completely untrue.

Insurers paid​ ​the library $1,568,530 for contractors doing repair work. They dried it out, abated asbestos, removed damaged flooring, drywall, cabinetry, plumbing fixtures, and more. The insurance payout was not sufficient to also pay off the bond. However, the proceeds are used to make bond payments and for property maintenance. If additional insurance payments are received, the library intends to pay off the bond, if possible.

Yes, money was legitimately spent on outside contractors and consultants to provide services that were not easily available locally. In 2019, consultants conducted feasibility studies and prepared construction estimates on sites under consideration for a new library. In 2020, studies conducted prior to purchasing the property included a boundary line survey, environmental assessment, and hazardous materials survey. Attorneys helped obtain the non-taxpayer-voted limited tax general obligation bond (LTGO), and approved the purchase contract.

Most importantly, the current levy proposal is not about a new building. It’s about operating the library. While everyone has a right to oppose ballot issues, the statement in the voters’ pamphlet is inaccurate in many details and presents a false picture. I strongly urge voters to ask questions, come to public meetings, and read detailed information at https://www.sjlib.org/levylidlift/. Please vote by Aug. 6.