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It's not the numbers so much - it's how you arrive at them.
A few criticisms aside, the Spokane Valley City Council inched
closer Tuesday to signing a contract with the Spokane County Library
District for 2004. The council mulled over a pair of options proposed
by the district; both would cost the city about $2.1 million.
The council is more happy with an option that measures cost against
actual library use. Council members have been critical of a proposal
that determines cost of library based on assessed property valuation
- the method the district uses to determine costs in the rest of
the county.
"Can you imagine our conversations with Sheriff (Mark) Sterk
if the discussion (on a police contract) had been based on property
valuation?" asked Council Member Dick Denenny.
The district currently collects 50 cents per $1,000 in assessed
valuation from everyone living in the district, which serves the
entire county.
The council could approve a plan before Christmas if they agree
to a deal next Tuesday night. But even if that doesn't happen, officials
on both sides have said library service will continue uninterrupted.
"We're not closing the libraries," Mayor Mike DeVleming
said last week.
No matter how the number is calculated though, at least one council
member isn't happy with the price.
"I'm not in agreement with that amount," Taylor said,
adding that he believes it's too much for the service.
Still, all the council is agreement that library service will continue
somehow.
The district board has waived a June 2004 deadline for the city
of Spokane Valley to commit to SCLD services for 2005 and has agreed
to a conduct a capital-facilities plan.
Under either contract, the city would have to reimburse the library
district for the cost of such a study if the city decided to build
its own library or look elsewhere for services in 2005.
The council meets next Tuesday night at 6 at Spokane Valley City
Hall, 11707 E. Sprague.
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