What public budget documents and board recordings reveal about the path to 61 layoffs
By Eric Wilson
Updated April 11, 2026.
which is 38% of budgeted branch positions
& converted three branches to unstaffed self-service.
The district told the public the shortfall was “not apparent any earlier”
TRL serves half a million people across five counties in western Washington, with 29 branches and roughly 230 budgeted staff positions.
Public budget documents and board meeting recordings tell a different story. The eight exhibits below trace, year by year, how the district spent down its reserves, who benefited, and what options were never pursued.
Eric has written a well-informed work. It is a gift. Please click on the link below to continue reading.
was purchased in 2005 by the McClatchy Company,
it became a subsidiary of Chatham Asset Management
Some may say it was purchased by a hedgefund.
This may be the reason why so many people have not heard of the TRL crisis.
The media crisis, in a way, is more concerning. All Communities and workers need the protection of their local media. The Company that owns The Olympian is in New Jersey.
While the Olympian will write articles about TRL. They will not be addressing the needs of the people. They slanted their stories towards corporate interests in the past.
They recently let many of their free-lance reporters go. So if you want to see Arts and Theater reviews you will need to read the Jolt.
is a non-profit news source.
They have current, local information on many facets of life in Thurston County.
However, they seem to parrot whatever the Olympian is publishing
concerning the TRL library.
Maybe they have friends in high places.
The lack of coverage regarding the TRL crisis in the Jolt, is in itself a crisis of information.