Regarding the proposal to annex Renton Library to the KCLS, it is clear that as a taxpayer I will be paying more for my library service if King County Library System provides it. It is also clear that their well-documented record of substantial cost overruns, lack of planning, oversight and personnel difficulties, not to mention lack of responsiveness to patron concerns do not bode well for Renton Library patrons. I would like to point out that the funding shortfall doesn’t disappear when KCLS takes over; it just becomes more costly and less responsive to Renton residents. I can’t find any advantage to joining the KCLS.

Renton has a 20-year Master Plan available for our library. One of the significant changes that patrons repeatedly requested is more access. That can be provided by more hours at existing facilities. Let’s maximize what have and work toward what we want. We need improvements but they don’t have to be completed instantly. It makes much more sense that any increased taxes for library services be used to maintain and improve local service levels and facilities. Let’s keep decisions made by Renton residents instead of by KCLS.

Penny Eskenazi

Renton