Pat Bowling
78:43 - 79:34
"due to concerns over the recent increases in the borough's contribution, the borough assembly voted to terminate the current library services agreement effective December 31st, 2026. This gives the assembly time to consider their options, which are option 1, to renegotiate the library services agreement, uh, with a view to limit the amount that the borough is contracted to pay the non-area-wide library services. Option 2, put a measure on the October ballot for the borough to adopt area-wide library powers. If passed, the borough would provide and pay for library services for all residents of the borough."
“due to concerns over the recent increases in the borough's contribution, the borough assembly voted to terminate the current library services agreement effective December 31st, 2026. This gives the assembly time to consider their options, which are option 1, to renegotiate the library services agreement, uh, with a view to limit the amount that the borough is contracted to pay the non-area-wide library services. Option 2, put a measure on the October ballot for the borough to adopt area-wide library powers. If passed, the borough would provide and pay for library services for all residents of the borough.”
- Speaker
- Pat Bowling
- Timestamp
- 78:43 – 79:34
- Community
- Alaska News
- Location
- Ketchikan
- Captured at
- July 9, 2026
From the transcript
So due to concerns over the recent increases in the borough's contribution, the borough assembly voted to terminate the current library services agreement effective December 31st, 2026. This gives the assembly time to consider their options, which are option 1, to renegotiate the library services agreement, uh, with a view to limit the amount that the borough is contracted to pay the non-area-wide library services. Option 2, put a measure on the October ballot for the borough to adopt area-wide library powers. If passed, the borough would provide and pay for library services for all residents of the borough. And as you've heard earlier tonight, there's also a citizens initiative that's going around for signatures to put this measure on the fall ballot.
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The Ketchikan Gateway Borough voted to terminate its library services agreement with the city effective December 31, 2026, putting roughly 40% of the public library's budget at risk. A citizens' petition drive had 289 signatures as of Tuesday and needs at least 400 by July 20 to place a borough-wide library powers measure on the October ballot.
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