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Douglas County Library supporters cleared a major hurdle to forming a countywide tax district Monday when the Roseburg City Council unanimously passed a resolution allowing residents to vote on the proposal.
Library supporters applauded when the resolution passed.
“I'm very pleased,” said Jeff Pugh of the Douglas County Library Foundation. “I expected it to be a closer vote.”
Members of the Library Futures Committee have said their plan to provide stable funding for the 11-branch system won't work without support from Douglas County's largest city, whose taxpayers would provide half the funding.
Although Roseburg city councilors had hoped to get more information about how the Douglas County commissioners would govern a district, they agreed to leave the decision up to voters.
“People elect us to use our best judgment,” Councilor Steve Kaser said. “I came to the conclusion that the citizens of Roseburg can figure this out.”
The library system currently primarily relies on county funding, which has been cut because of reductions in federal payments meant to keep timber-reliant counties afloat.
Roseburg is the seventh city to agree to put a library district on the May 15 ballot. Only the Myrtle Creek City Council has rejected the proposal. Sutherlin, Winston, Canyonville and Elkton have yet to decide.
The Library Futures Committee hopes to gain support from the remaining cities by mid-December before taking the proposal to county commissioners. The district would have the authority to collect up to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation. County commissioners have not taken a position on the district.
City Manager Eric Swanson told the council he met with Commissioner Doug Robertson. Most of the conservation was spent discussing the possible extension of the federal payments.
Swanson said that Robertson told him commissioners are committed to keeping the libraries open, though they can't commit to a funding level.
Councilors considered tabling a vote on the resolution until its next meeting, but concluded they weren't likely to get much more information by then.
“Why not just let the citizens vote?” Councilor Steve Tuchscherer asked. “ I don't think the county is going to answer most of these questions.”
Several councilors complained the Library Futures Committee proposal left many questions unanswered, such as whether the full 50 cents would need to be levied.
Still, they supported letting resident vote.
“I thought about this a lot, and I've come to the conclusion that we're over thinking this,” Kaser said. “I don't think it's my place to question how the (library) committee wants to do things.”
Councilors also brought up concerns about the $129,000 a year the city could lose if a library district were formed. Ultimately, they agreed Roseburg voters will have to decide if they're willing to take a cut in city services to restore or maintain library hours and staff. A library district would force the city to reduce the amount of taxes it collects because of limits on total property taxes.
“It's the taxpayers' money. They should decide what service they want to pay for,” Councilor Bob Cotterell said.
Kaser said he concluded the amount the city might lose was small enough that the city could take the hit.
Councilor Tom Ryan suggested the city distribute information to its residents outlining the potential consequences for city services.
According to city staff members, purchases the city can make with $129,000 include two park maintenance workers, half of the park management and recreation program budget, and almost the entire city budget for prosecuting offenders and defending indigent suspects.
Swanson said he hasn't received an answer from county commissioners whether the city would still be obligated to contribute $50,000 a year to support the Roseburg library if a district formed. The city signed an agreement in 1994 to make the contributions until 2036. Swanson told the council the agreement might be revised if voters approve the district.
Kaser said he remembered when the community raised money to build the Roseburg library.
“People were proud of it, and the hours that it's open are abysmal,” he said. “People paid money to build that building, and it's hardly open. I feel like that library has to be supported one way or another.”
• You can reach reporter Inka Bajandas at 541-957-4202 or by email at ibajandas@nrtoday.com.
Library supporters applauded when the resolution passed.
“I'm very pleased,” said Jeff Pugh of the Douglas County Library Foundation. “I expected it to be a closer vote.”
Members of the Library Futures Committee have said their plan to provide stable funding for the 11-branch system won't work without support from Douglas County's largest city, whose taxpayers would provide half the funding.
Although Roseburg city councilors had hoped to get more information about how the Douglas County commissioners would govern a district, they agreed to leave the decision up to voters.
“People elect us to use our best judgment,” Councilor Steve Kaser said. “I came to the conclusion that the citizens of Roseburg can figure this out.”
The library system currently primarily relies on county funding, which has been cut because of reductions in federal payments meant to keep timber-reliant counties afloat.
Roseburg is the seventh city to agree to put a library district on the May 15 ballot. Only the Myrtle Creek City Council has rejected the proposal. Sutherlin, Winston, Canyonville and Elkton have yet to decide.
The Library Futures Committee hopes to gain support from the remaining cities by mid-December before taking the proposal to county commissioners. The district would have the authority to collect up to 50 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation. County commissioners have not taken a position on the district.
City Manager Eric Swanson told the council he met with Commissioner Doug Robertson. Most of the conservation was spent discussing the possible extension of the federal payments.
Swanson said that Robertson told him commissioners are committed to keeping the libraries open, though they can't commit to a funding level.
Councilors considered tabling a vote on the resolution until its next meeting, but concluded they weren't likely to get much more information by then.
“Why not just let the citizens vote?” Councilor Steve Tuchscherer asked. “ I don't think the county is going to answer most of these questions.”
Several councilors complained the Library Futures Committee proposal left many questions unanswered, such as whether the full 50 cents would need to be levied.
Still, they supported letting resident vote.
“I thought about this a lot, and I've come to the conclusion that we're over thinking this,” Kaser said. “I don't think it's my place to question how the (library) committee wants to do things.”
Councilors also brought up concerns about the $129,000 a year the city could lose if a library district were formed. Ultimately, they agreed Roseburg voters will have to decide if they're willing to take a cut in city services to restore or maintain library hours and staff. A library district would force the city to reduce the amount of taxes it collects because of limits on total property taxes.
“It's the taxpayers' money. They should decide what service they want to pay for,” Councilor Bob Cotterell said.
Kaser said he concluded the amount the city might lose was small enough that the city could take the hit.
Councilor Tom Ryan suggested the city distribute information to its residents outlining the potential consequences for city services.
According to city staff members, purchases the city can make with $129,000 include two park maintenance workers, half of the park management and recreation program budget, and almost the entire city budget for prosecuting offenders and defending indigent suspects.
Swanson said he hasn't received an answer from county commissioners whether the city would still be obligated to contribute $50,000 a year to support the Roseburg library if a district formed. The city signed an agreement in 1994 to make the contributions until 2036. Swanson told the council the agreement might be revised if voters approve the district.
Kaser said he remembered when the community raised money to build the Roseburg library.
“People were proud of it, and the hours that it's open are abysmal,” he said. “People paid money to build that building, and it's hardly open. I feel like that library has to be supported one way or another.”
• You can reach reporter Inka Bajandas at 541-957-4202 or by email at ibajandas@nrtoday.com.
