And the word is “Yes.” Please vote yes on Measure 34-345, the Library Levy renewal on the November 4th Special Election ballot. Voting yes will ensure continuation of current library hours, children’s programs, purchase of books and other materials and your access to online eBooks, audiobooks and other resources.
Our library’s budget has three sources. One is donations. The second is City property taxes. The third and largest is County funds, again derived from property taxes.
Forest Grove City Library is a member, by contract, of Washington County Cooperative Library Services, a county government agency. WCCLS is funded by property taxes funneled through the County General Fund and a Local Option Levy that must be renewed every five years. The levy provides 45% of WCCLS resources.
Since 1976, WCCLS has relied on these temporary levies for all or part of its support for countywide public library services. With few exceptions, county voters have approved these levies by significant majorities. Recent levies have been approved by more than 60% of voters.
WCCLS now provides about two thirds of the funds needed to operate 16 libraries in the county. For Forest Grove’s Library, the levy portion of WCCLS funds is about 26% of its total budget. How would our library maintain hours, children’s programs and book purchases without those funds?
Please vote yes on measure 34-345 to keep our beautiful library humming!
Martha Robertson, President, Friends of Forest Grove Library
