A new funding method passed by the Senate could bring much-needed public libraries to underserved communities.

SB 5265 passed unanimously out of the Senate on February 28. The bill expands allowable uses of funds collected by park and recreation districts to include community centers that include space for a public library. The original bill limited the library space to 45% of the usable space in the community center; however, an amendment increased that limit to 50% of usable space.

In a time of tight budgets, this expanded use of park and recreation district funds is a welcome change for small and rural communities.

Change to park and recreation districts could allow funding libraries in public buildings

February 3, 2025

To help smaller and rural communities have better access to the benefits of libraries, the Senate is considering a small change to how governments can use funds from a park and recreation district.

Under current law, park and recreation districts are able to use funds to acquire, construct, reconstruct, maintain, repair, add to, and operate recreational facilities. RCW 36.69.010 provides a broad definition of “recreational facility” that includes things like swimming pools, parks, bicycle paths, senior centers, and community centers.

SB 5365, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R–Longview), proposes modifying the definition of “recreational facilities” to include community centers that contain public libraries, provided the library occupies less than 45% of the usable space in the center.

While library districts already exist in our state, trying to build and maintain a library solely with library district funds can be untenable for some library districts. Allowing park and recreation districts to use funds to build, operate, and maintain a community center that includes a space for a library could increase the number of libraries in smaller and rural communities.

The change outlined in the bill would only benefit park and recreation districts and not metropolitan park districts. MRSC has written an article discussing the differences between the two types of districts that can be viewed here.

The City of Castle Rock worked with their state elected officials to submit the proposed updates covered in SB 5365.

The bill received a public hearing on Thursday, January 30, in the Senate Local Government Committee and now awaits executive action.