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Library funding update
January 5, 2012
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to refer a three-year rate based local option levy to continue library services to the voters for the May 2012 election. The resolution also outlines their intention to forward a district measure to the November 2012 ballot if the levy is approved.
Read the resolution here.
January 3, 2012
On January 3, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen announced a two-step approach for permanent library funding in a resolution to be considered for approval by the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners at its regular meeting on January 5.
The two-step process involves referring a renewal of the current levy rate, followed by a library district measure six months later. These measures will be voted on in the May 2012 and November 2012 elections, respectively.
Currently, the library's primary source of funding is derived from a local option levy, which must be approved by voters every few years. Renewing the current rate of $0.89 will not maintain the current level of funding for the library, as stated in the resolution. This is primarily due to property tax compression. To account for the shortfall, the library will be forced to reduce open hours and staff positions.
If the levy measure passes in May, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will then refer the question to voters of forming an independent library district to the November 2012 General Election.
A library district would create a dedicated, permanent source of funding for the library. By Oregon state law, a district is a municipal corporation that functions as an independent taxing entity. There are presently 25 library districts in Oregon, and many more nationwide. A library district would create a single source of funding for the library. A library district would eliminate the need to ask voters to approve a levy every five years, mitigate the library's reduced funding due to compression, and free up county general fund dollars for other community needs.
December 27, 2011
On December 16, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen announced that he will put forth a resolution to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on January 5 to refer a library levy to voters at the current rate of $0.89 per $1000 of Assessed Value for three years and refer a library district measure to voters in 2014. Read more about this proposal.
November 9, 2011
On November 8, Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke presented the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners with an informational briefing on library funding. The Library Foundation CEO Merris Sumrall, Library Advisory Board President Katie Lane, and citizen advocate Brian Wilson also spoke on behalf of the library.
August 1, 2011
On July 28, Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen announced his decision to delay until May 2012 a vote on a library funding measure. The Multnomah County Board Commissioners has until March 6 to refer a measure to the May ballot. The current local option levy, which accounts for 66 percent of the library budget, expires July 1, 2012.
June 22, 2011
On June 21, a library district briefing was held for the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. This briefing outlined the process that the library has gone through over the last several months to gather and provide information about the funding options and, in particular, to answer questions about the library district option. There was also an opportunity for members of the library stakeholder groups (the Library Advisory Board, the Friends of the Library, and The Library Foundation) to express their groups' support for a library district. The Board also heard from the President of AFSCME Local 88 regarding the support and concerns of library employees. Over the next few weeks the board will be making a decision as to what type of funding measure to refer to the November 2011 ballot. Click here to watch that briefing.
June 9, 2011
In March, the library commissioned a poll of likely Multnomah County voters to determine support levels for the creation of a Library Service District to continue existing public library services and to provide a single source of stable funding. You can read the results here.
February 22, 2011
With the current library levy, accounting for 66 percent of the library budget, set to expire in July 2012, the library continues to explore the pros and cons of forming a library district or renewing the levy. This process comes on the heels of the landslide approval in November of Measure 26-114 by Multnomah County voters, giving the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners the ability to forward a measure to a future election to create a library district.
Many library supporters view the current model of temporary funding, renewed every five years, to be unsustainable for the long-term health of Multnomah County Library.
Hear the briefing delivered to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 17, 2011. Read more about the briefing in The Oregonian's coverage.
A few months ago, an internal task force was named to examine in detail the district option. This process involved members of the library staff, AFSCME Local 88, and county budget and legal representatives. This group was charged with answering the following questions:
- Is this district financially feasible?
- Will it work for library patrons, i.e., can we ensure the same level of great service and availability expected from the library?
- Will it work for employees?
- Are there any other issues that would give us pause?
A report on these findings is in process, and will be presented to Director of Libraries Vailey Oehlke upon completion in March, creating a sound and informed basis for her recommendation to Chair Cogen and the rest of the board. [Update 6/16/11: This report has since been published.]
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.
