Council President Betsy Wilkerson Statement on Spokane Public Library

Below is a statement from Council President Betsy Wilkerson regarding funding of the Spokane Public Library:

"We've heard from the community about the potential service cuts at Spokane Public Library.

For context, the Spokane Public Library receives funding from the City's general fund, voter-approved operating levies, and other sources. In 2025-2026, the Spokane Public Library budgeted more than $19 million from the City's General Fund, including an additional $500,000 added to the 2026 budget last November. The library ordinarily receives its allocation through the City's annual budgeting process in the fall but has requested a firm commitment from the Council on funding before the fall budget discussions begin.

We want to emphasize that it is still too early to provide specific details or exact numbers about potential funding reductions or service impacts. We are acutely aware of the urgency of this issue and are actively working to address it, but it is premature to draw firm conclusions until we have fully assessed our options and any forthcoming decisions.

The Council is committed to a thorough review of our budget and to exploring potential solutions to ensure a viable, agreeable option.

We want to ensure that Spokane Public Library remains a vital resource for everyone in our community, and we will keep you updated as we move forward in this process. Thank you for your understanding and support."