Understanding the Library Budget

Budget Breakdown

#1 source of money for the Library: library levy

The current five-year levy supplies just over half of the Library’s operating budget- about $25 million dollars. Multnomah County residents pay the levy when they pay their property taxes.

#2 source of revenue (about 35%): County’s General Fund

This portion of the General Fund that supports the Library comes from property taxes and is under the discretion of the Board of County Commissioners.

The library levy and the County’s General Fund are both based on property taxes and together make up about 90% of the Library’s revenues.

“Other” and “BWB” (beginning working balance) sources make up about 5-10% of Library revenue

The “Other” category is for all monies that are library-generated and/or non-tax dollars. The largest amount in this category is $1.95 million in grants received from the Friends of the Library, The Library Foundation, and the Oregon Community Foundation. This money is used to enhance and expand programs and collections in ways that the operating budget alone cannot support. The Beginning Working Balance is unspent money that carries over into the next budget year.

Library Budget Quick Facts

Library Levy

• About 50-55% of total revenue
• Local option levy
• Subject to voter approval
• All property tax

General Fund

• About 35-40% of total revenue
• Aka, the “fossil levy”
• Part of County’s permanent tax base
• Subject to BCC allocation
• All property tax

Library-generated Revenues

• About 5-10% of total revenues
• Non-tax
• Fines & fees
• Sales
• Grants
• Reimbursements from other government agencies
• Interest
• Beginning Working Balance - If expenditures are less than revenues in the previous fiscal year