Since becoming Interim Executive Director in May 2026, Andrea Heisel has focused on strengthening Timberland Regional Library's financial future, increasing transparency, and ensuring the library continues to meet the needs of the communities it serves.
Over the past several months, TRL has made significant organizational and financial changes while preparing for important decisions about the library's future. In this Q&A, Andrea shares her perspective on those changes, the role libraries continue to play in our communities, and why the Board of Trustees is placing a levy lid lift measure before voters this November.
When you became Interim Executive Director, what were your biggest priorities?
My goal as Interim Executive Director has been to restore our financial stability, demonstrate our value to the public, and build back better.
I have spent a long time thinking about what people can expect when they come to a Timberland library, whether in their own community or online, and what we promise our taxpayers with our library service. I have also recently traveled around the district listening to our patrons and our staff about their hopes for our future. From these conversations, I have come to believe that our TRL promise is we are community-led and centrally supported. Throughout our five-county district, people understand their Timberland library to be a symbol of opportunity in their community, and they see the value of a public space for everyone - the business center for the local entrepreneur, the school center for the local homeschool cooperative or pre-k support for families, the community living room where everyone is welcome.
I believe these priorities can be achieved by restoring the financial stability of the organization, incorporating input from our communities and our staff in planning for our future building and service needs, and fully supporting our current community-developed Strategic Directions.
What role do libraries play in our communities today, and why do they continue to matter?
Over the last six months, as TRL leadership and the Board of Trustees have been working to address financial challenges and deciding where to cut costs, people have told us how much they value the service of their local library staff and the uniquely human experience of being in our libraries. In the age of AI, libraries create opportunities for community connection. For people needing help with technology and the internet, applying for a job, finding their next great read, a free place to come with their kids, or just to be among other people, anyone can come to their local Timberland library branch and make those connections. From storytimes that promote early learning and literacy, to community cooling and heating centers, to job skills, search, and resume assistance, or a place to just be, libraries are for everyone.
Why is TRL asking voters to consider a levy lid lift this November?
In short, TRL has reached a critical point where current library services will no longer be sustainable without additional revenue.
TRL's main source of revenue is local property taxes collected through a levy - a tax collected for a specific purpose. Public libraries like TRL are permitted by law to levy up to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. However, Washington State law limits annual property tax growth to 1% per year. As a result, TRL’s levy rate has declined over the years from the legal maximum of $0.50 to our current rate of $0.22 per $1,000 of assessed value. While we have made efforts to live within our means, TRL has not had a full levy rate in over 25 years, and revenue growth has not kept up with rising costs. We simply cannot sustain the library services you see today or improve them without a levy lid lift.
Levy lid lifts are how citizens indicate their support for public services. While we have continually worked to adjust to a declining levy rate, we have also heard from many community members that they want TRL to continue to provide the staffing and services they need and rely on. We are placing the question of whether to restore the library’s levy rate before voters to give our community a voice in shaping the future of TRL.
Is this measure connected to the budget challenges TRL experienced earlier this year?
We have known for a long time that costs would eventually outpace revenues as a result of the 1% limit on property tax growth. As anticipated, our budget began to reflect this reality in 2022-23. The significant shortfall we confronted this past January is the result of a failure to act earlier by involving the public in the discussion about library funding via ballot measure.
TRL last pursued a levy lid lift in 2009, and the effort failed by a relatively small margin. Rather than attempt another ballot measure, in the years that followed, leadership instead focused on reducing staffing through attrition to control costs. In fact, TRL eliminated 100 positions from just 2021 to 2026 - a substantial impact to a district with 29 libraries and five book mobiles across five counties covering 7,000 square miles. Although some reductions were necessary, this strategy did not address our revenue issue, and we are now at a point where we cannot sufficiently sustain existing core services at current staffing levels.
Ultimately, reductions to staffing and services in recent years should not have been implemented without also pursuing a restoration of the Library's levy rate. Current administrative leadership is keenly aware that giving the public a voice in the form of levy lid lifts is an essential part of financial planning for the district, and that cost reductions, when necessary, should not be made without involving the public in the conversation around library funding.
What changes has TRL made over the past several months, and how have they affected the library's financial position?
A lot has happened since the January 2026 budget shortfall announcement, layoffs, and leadership turnover. In the past six months, we have completely rebuilt the leadership team, reviewed administrative salary structures, and worked closely with the Board of Trustees and the public to improve financial transparency.
To date, we have made budget adjustments of approximately $3.69 million by reducing our collection expenditures, leaving vacant positions unfilled, utilizing voluntary and involuntary layoffs, completing an administrative structure review and salary adjustment, and implementing furlough days for non-represented staff. You can check out our financial outlook on our Funding and Budget webpage.
However, the lesson from the budget crisis this year is that we must make public participation in the budget process at the ballot box a regular part of our financial planning. This fall, we take the first step in implementing this vision.
If the levy is approved, what improvements will patrons see? What happens if it isn't?
Should the levy pass, the additional revenue will be used in the following priority order: to increase open hours and staffing, to increase money spent towards collections and reduce wait times for popular items, to increase library programs especially supporting school-age youth, and to work with our communities on future facilities projects. If it fails, the opposite happens – fewer open staffed hours, reduced collections and longer wait times, fewer programs, including early learning and family programming, and deferred building and technology maintenance and upgrades.
Some community members have asked why TRL didn't pursue a levy lid lift sooner. What would you tell them?
Unfortunately, we let the fear of failure stop us from going sooner, when the reality is that libraries and library districts all around us have understood that this is how we maintain and improve funding for essential services. The new Administration understands this reality, is actively planning for future levy timelines, and is also working diligently to review other funding opportunities available whether through available federal funding opportunities to support our local community libraries or other grants at various levels.
It's been a challenging year for TRL. How would you describe where the library system is today?
When people ask me how it is going, I can honestly say that it is better – we have made much needed changes to how we receive and take into consideration staff and library supporter feedback. Through the new Financial Transparency Policy, the Board and Administration have a better understanding of not just our current financial position but where we could be projected out four years. All of the right people are in the right places working together to get us through this tough moment.
What do you want community members to know about their library?
If you have not been to your local Timberland library, you are invited. I'll be hosting a series of community forums where we will share information and answer questions about what these extra dollars will do for Timberland. Check out a book, a program, or just come hang out for a while. I hope you will find a place for exploration and connection. You are a part of the Timberland community. We hope to see you soon.
Timberland Regional Library has a Levy Lid Lift Proposition on the ballot for November. Information for voters can be found at TRL.org/Levy
