Item A: Renewal of Library Local Option Levy

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: Renewal of Library Local Option Levy Meeting Date: April 12, 2006 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Staff Contact: Connie Bennett www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 682-5363 ISSUE STATEMENT The council is asked to consider renewal of the Library Local Option Levy for placement on the November ballot. BACKGROUND Council Action History The council authorized creation of the Mayor’s Library Improvement Committee in October 1997. The committee was charged with developing a plan to address improved library services and facilities and to return a completed proposal for City Council consideration. On July 22, 1998, the council accepted the Mayor’s Library Improvement Committee’s report and recommendations for long-range library improvements with specific improvements to be funded by a local option levy. On July 29, 1998, the council voted to place the Library Local Option Levy on the November 1998 ballot. The levy was for $2,190,000 per year ($0.28 per $1000 of assessed value or $39 per average taxpayer per year) for four years. Voters approved the levy by a 64% vote on November 3, 1998. The levy expired on June 30, 2003. In October 2001, the Mayor reactivated the Mayor’s Library Improvement Committee. The committee’s new charge was to review progress toward its original recommendations, consider what should be included in a levy renewal proposal, and propose the timing of the new levy. The committee returned a report on library services to council on February 11, 2002, and recommended that a Library Local Option Levy renewal be placed on the ballot for the May 2002 election. The Mayor’s Library Improvement Committee recommend continuation of on-going library services, and in addition enhancing the collection budget to bring the library system up to the Oregon Library Association’s “adequate” standard of at least 2.5 books per capita, adding evening hours to the Downtown Library schedule to meet the Oregon Library Association’s “adequate” standard of at least 60 hours per week, adding hours to the branch library schedules to provide system consistency, funding additional staff for telephone reference service for the library system and full service desk coverage at the Downtown Library, and adding Sunday hours at the branches. The council unanimously accepted the committee’s report. On February 22, 2002, the council voted to place renewal of the Library Local Option Levy on the May 21, 2002 ballot. The levy renewal was for $19.6 million over four years, or $4.9 million per year ($0.50 L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060412\S060412A.doc