The Library’s proposition on the November ballot has led to some erroneous claims recently, especially on social media. Here are some straight facts, with links to more information.

The Library is asking voters to approve $12,000,000 in bonds, which will be repaid over a 20 year period, to contribute 60% of the cost of the new Library on Spring Street. The cost is estimated to be $20,000,000, which includes property purchase, design, construction and fixtures. The project is the result of a five-year planning process that included regular public meetings, a survey, and town hall feedback sessions. The Library understood from 2015 onward that part of the process would involve asking for voter approval for a portion of the overall funding required. This is clearly reflected in the minutes of the public “Work Sessions” held in 2015 and 2016. https://www.sjlib.org/library-building-project/

The project budget HAS changed over the course of the planning process, due to increases in labor and materials costs. The current estimate was updated in the spring of 2022 by the Library’s construction management firm. It is NOT an old number, and it does incorporate the effects of recent inflation. It also includes a significant contingency amount over and above the individual line items since we know that estimates will change during construction.

Construction of the building represents 70% of the overall budget. Just over $2.1 million dollars of the total will pay for the property itself, retiring the 2020 purchase loan. Building and site construction – for a 15,000-square-foot facility – is estimated at approximately $14 million, including fixtures. The remaining items cover architecture and construction management. (NOT building a 25,000 sf building used in the hypothetical feasibility study in 2019)

Some discussion online has focused on earlier feasibility studies which mention large building sizes (25,000 sf). These were hypothetical scenarios made to understand the range of possible options and costs. The Library Board voted to proceed with a plan that yields a 15,000-square-foot building, which is a 50% increase over the current Library building. That decision was reached in Spring 2022 in order to balance the need for space with the rising cost of construction.

It has also been suggested that the funds could be obtained through grants and donations. The Library has already applied for a $2,000,000 grant from the Washington State Library Capital Project fund – the maximum amount allowed by the fund. The Legislature will process that

grant this year and announce the results in the spring of 2023. There are further grant opportunities, and the Library has a dedicated development director who is pursuing grants and private donations to fund 40% of the entire project. The Library’s capital fundraising campaign is underway and will gain momentum after the election. We expect that fundraising campaign to continue throughout 2023 and 2024 as the design and architecture phase of the project gives way to actual construction.

Signed: Vote Yes For Our Library, a committee of San Juan residents