How Pasco voted on property tax bump to pay for libraries
Pasco voters showed major support for a property tax increase that will pay for library services — and free up millions of dollars in funds for the city.
Proposition 1 asked voters if the city should annex into Mid-Columbia Libraries and pay to be an official partner with a property tax bump that residents will notice starting in 2027.
Election results Tuesday night show Proposition 1 is passing by a wide margin with 61% voting yes, or 4,204 votes, to 39% voting no, or 2,708 votes.
Tallies released on election night are for ballots received during early voting. More results will be released Wednesday.
What’s next for Pasco libraries
Annexing into the library district will increase property tax by about $0.23 per $1,000 in assessed property value as soon as 2027. For a $400,000 home, that adds up to $92 each year, or $7.67 per month, in additional property tax.
The library district would be the taxing authority.
Though its unclear exactly how much money the property tax would generate, the library district would collect more than $3 million per year. The city’s assessed valuation is currently about $13.5 billion.
Currently, the city pays about $3 million a year from its general fund for its contract with Mid-Columbia Libraries, Richa Sigdel, deputy city manager for Pasco, previously told the Tri-City Herald.
The city plans to instead use that money to “reduce reliance on (budget) reserves and maintain the current service levels for public safety, roads and park services,” Sigdel said.
Officials say annexation makes long-term planning easier and makes the city-library partnership more effective and efficient compared to relying on a contract. It’s been part of the city’s plan for at least eight years.
Annexation won’t have an effect on existing library services. But it will make it easier for collaboration between Pasco’s libraries and other branches.
How Pasco libraries operate now
Pasco has contracted for more than 50 years for services from the library district.
Sigdel said the city provided the library district an 18-month notice of cancellation of the city’s existing contract in August 2025. The contract will end in February 2027.
Mid-Columbia Libraries currently operates two branches in the city. The building downtown is owned by the city and the other in west Pasco is leased to the library system.
Kennewick and parts of Franklin County, including Connell, Kahlotus and Mesa, already have been annexed into the library district. West Richland contracts with Mid-Columbia Libraries and Richland has its own library system.
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 8:52 PM.
