Library Funding Measure Scheduled for May 2012 Election
In a recent President’s column, I included some comments about the library funding ballot measure and the political campaign to encourage support for the measure. Since then, there has been a change in timing. The Multnomah County Commissioners decided to postpone referring a library funding measure until the May 2012 election. There are several reasons for the delay, all of which are intended to provide the best opportunity for the public to understand the issues and show their support for the library.
At the time a decision needed to be made, a library funding measure would have been the only item on the ballot. This would force the County to bear the full cost of the election, which typically runs around $400,000 to $500,000 – a significant expense at a time when the County is already experiencing shrinking funding.
A second consideration is that with the current poor economic environment, it might not be the best time to ask the community for funding. We hope that the economy will improve and provide a voting climate more favorable to supporting a library measure next May.
Finally, the delay will provide time for the Library and its partners to educate the voters about the different funding options. Though there are permanent library districts elsewhere around Oregon and the rest of the country, many voters do not understand the differences between the funding models for a temporary levy vs. a permanent district. In the coming months there will be information, presentations, and forums available for voters to learn about this issue.
I hope everyone will watch for notices on the library funding campaign and that you will consider helping.
