Multnomah County voters this fall will consider a proposed Library District after the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to refer that question to the November 2012 ballot.
The proposed library district would replace the library’s current funding method of serial levies with a permanent taxing district to pay for the Central Library and 18 neighborhood branches in Portland, Gresham, Troutdale and Fairview. The permanent rate would be limited to $1.24 per $1,000 of a property’s assessed value, according to the resolution approved Aug. 2 by commissioners.
In November 2010, 72 percent of voters gave Multnomah County the authority under its charter to refer the formation of a library district to voters. In May 2012, 84.5 percent of voters renewed an expiring three-year levy. If voters approve a taxing district this November, that district would replace the levy as the library’s funding source July 1, 2013.
Commissioners made their decision Aug. 2 following a month of receiving public feedback via five community listening sessions, a July 31 public hearing and a survey that included more than 20,000 participants.
Click here to download a statistical summary of the survey .
Click here to download the complete results of the survey.