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Library Funding FAQ


Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke answers questions about funding Multnomah County Library

Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke

What is on the May 15, 2012 ballot?

For library funding, Measure 26-125. The measure would renew the local option levy for the library at the current tax rate of $0.89 per $1,000 assessed value. This levy would not raise property taxes. It would continue the same rate of the previous library levy approved by voters.

What would be the result of passage of that measure?

The levy would provide the lion’s share of library funding.

An $0.89 levy would not fund 100% of current library services. Renewing the levy at the current rate would amount to a funding gap of about 20-25% below the cost of current services for FY 2013. With higher property tax compression directly impacting the collection of the library levy, the library has tapped into its carryover reserve in increasing amounts for the last three years to maintain promised services.

Estimated cost for the typical household would remain about $13 per month for three years. The levy would raise approximately $32.6 million in 2012-13; $34.5 million in 2013-14; $36.5 million in 2014-15. The estimated tax cost for this measure is an estimate only based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of estimate.

The library’s Fiscal Year 2012 budget was $63.2 million.

What would be the result of failure?

If voters do not pass Measure 26-125, properties would not be assessed the present rate of $0.89 per $1,000 of assessed value. Effectively 65% of the library funding would be eliminated. Most libraries would close, remaining libraries would be open fewer hours, and library services would be greatly reduced.

Why would there be reductions in library service if we renew the current rate?

The $0.89 rate has not fully covered library expenses for the past three years. This is due to a phenomenon known as property tax compression. Record high property tax compression affects the amount the library collects – now a full 33% less than voters agreed to in the last levy vote in 2006.

With the addition of locations, services, increased usage by the public, and health care costs, library expenditures have steadily ticked up over time, while funding through the property tax levy has decreased (due to compression).

The Board of County Commissioners have committed to an additional $10 million in one-time-only funds over three years to mitigate the funding gap resulting from an $0.89 renewal. That additional funding reduces our necessary reduction to approximately 10% of library expenditures as opposed to 20-25%.

What is going on the November ballot?

The Board of County Commissioners has pledged to refer a library district measure to voters in November at a rate that fully funds the library, should the May levy be approved. If a library district measure is approved by voters, it would supersede years two and three of the levy and that level of funding would take effect in FY 2014.

Why aren't you going for the district in May?

The decision about what funding options to present to voters is one of the responsibilities of the Board of County Commissioners. Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen has stated, "After having numerous discussions with county residents, and carefully assessing the political and economic environments, I have concluded that this is not the time to refer a library district nor an increased levy to voters."

Why a district?

A library district would eliminate the need to pass a levy every five years, reduce the compression issue, and remove the library from competition for county general fund dollars.

What is a library district?

By Oregon state law, a district is a municipal corporation that functions as an independent taxing entity. There are presently 24 library districts in Oregon, and there are many others nationwide. A library district would create a single source of funding for the library. A library district would eliminate the need to pass a levy every five years, reduce the compression issue, and remove the library from competition for county general fund dollars.

Where can I get more information about library funding?

The library is committed to providing open, impartial and transparent information about the funding process to the people it serves.

How is the library currently funded?

Currently, the library is funded mainly from two sources: 24 percent county general fund and 66 percent library levy. The remaining 10 percent comes from a variety of non-tax  sources (fees, fines, grants, etc.). There are concerns that the current system of library funding is not sustainable. Multnomah County continues to face a structural budget deficit (expenses are rising faster than revenues) that impacts the amount of money the library receives. The library levy is subject to renewal every five years, and the amount of money received is again impacted due to property tax compression. These concerns are what led to Measure 26-114 being introduced on the November election ballot -- a vote that created a choice for voters about how they want to fund Multnomah County Library.

What did Ballot Measure 26-114 do?

Measure 26-114 was simply a housekeeping vote to amend the County Charter allowing the board of county commissioners, if they choose and as a matter of county concern, to refer a measure to a future election so that voters could decide at that time whether to form a district or not. So in essence, the landslide "yes" vote provided the voters of Multnomah County with a choice about how the library is funded. Measure 26-114 did not create a library district and had no impact on how the library operates. There was no tax increase or financial impact associated with this measure.