The Multnomah County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Thursday that will ask voters to renew the current library tax levy in May.
The decision at the Thursday, Jan. 5 meeting is part of the two-step plan to create permanent, stable funding for the Multnomah County Library system. Contingent on county voters approving the levy in May, the county then will place a library tax district measure later this year on the November ballot.
Voters first will decide on a renewed three-year, 89-cent library tax levy in May before the current levy expires in June. The renewal would not raise taxes and would allow the county’s nationally-recognized library system to keep all branches open.
“There is tremendous passion in this community about libraries,” Chair Jeff Cogen said. “That is going to be our ace in the hole. I believe, frankly, that what we came up with in this compromise is better than what any of us had in the beginning.”
Library supporters who spoke in favor of the proposal included Vailey Oehlke, Multnomah County Library director; Craig Cedros, Friends of the Library president; Merris Sumrall, The Library Foundation CEO; and Michael Hanna, AFSCME Local 88 president.
Commissioners also weighed in on the plan.
“We all love our libraries and we want (the system) to be strong,” Commissioner Smith said. “This approach offers our best chances of success and a path to victory.”
Commissioner Kafoury added: “We need to know that whatever we put forward on the ballot has a really good chance of passing because we cannot risk the library -- it is just too important.”
If voters approve the library’s safety net in May, the board will put forth a proposal on the November 2012 ballot to create a library district. The district would provide more stable revenue for the county’s library system, which now relies on an expiring five-year levy for two-thirds of its funding. The board agrees that a district is a more sound policy so that the funding stream is not regularly threatened.
At a press conference Jan. 3, Chair Cogen said he listened to ardent library supporters who urged him to reconsider his original plan to put the library district on the ballot in 2014. He did not want to risk the library system solely on a district measure vote in May. If that measure failed, 65 percent of the revenue would be lost and the county would need to cut up to 300 jobs and close most branches. By working together to pass the current levy rate in May, and then referring the district issue to voters in November, the county can keep libraries funded, yet still pursue a long-term solution.
“The consequence of losing (the levy) vote would be severe,” Chair Cogen said. “However, we found common ground.”
Library supporters attended the press conference and shared their thoughts on why they favored Chair Cogen’s new plan.
“We think it’s the best plan available for the library going forward,” said Ed Epstein, treasurer for The Library Foundation.
Cogen also answered questions at the press conference.