HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 4707
RESOLUTION NO. 4707
A RESOLUTION CALLING A CITY ELECTION ON MAY 21,
2002, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REFERRING TO THE LEGAL
ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF EUGENE A MEASURE
AUTHORIZING A FOUR-YEAR LOCAL OPTION LEVY FOR
THE FUNDING OF LIBRARY OPERATIONS.
The City Council of the City of Eugene finds as follows:
A. On November 3, 1998, the voters of the City of Eugene approved an $8,760,000,
four-year serial levy for library operations, which commenced July 1, 1999, and will expire on
June 30,2003. The funds provided by this levy were used to meet one-time costs and operations of
a new larger Downtown Library and two branch libraries. Levy funds were also used for service
enhancements, including adding Sunday hours, enhanced collection and an enhanced Internet center.
B. The Mayor's Library Improvement Committee, which was originally created in
October of 1997 and reactivated in October of2001, reviewed recommendations for improving
library services over the long-term. The committee has made several recommendations regarding
a new levy to fund the services needed for adequate library operations, including:
1. Continuing the following services included in the current levy:
a. Library collection budget increase to provide for additional books and
other library materials for use throughout the library system;
b. Sunday afternoon hours at the Downtown Library and increase
staffing at the Downtown Library for additional public Internet access and volunteer
coordinator services;
c. Additional staff and funding for higher operating and maintenance
costs at Downtown Library due to its larger size; and
d. Operations of Bethel and Sheldon branch libraries.
2. Additional services as follows:
a. Enhancing the collection budget for the library system to bring the
library up to the Oregon Library Association's adequate standard of at least 2.5
books per capita for a community of 50,000 or more in population;
b. Adding evening hours to the Downtown Library schedule to bring the
Library up to the Oregon Library Association standard of "adequate", which is to
provide at least 60 hours per week of open hours in a community with 25,000 or
more in population;
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c. Adding weekday hours to the branch libraries to provide consistency
in opening times, and adding Sunday hours to the branches; and
d. Adding additional staff for telephone reference service for the library
system and full service desk coverage at the Downtown Library.
The levy will also include factors for uncollectible property tax payments, interest earnings, interest
expense, contingency, and Unappropriated Ending Fund Balance (to provide for positive cash flow
prior to receipt of property taxes).
C. The City Council agrees that a $19,600,000, four-year local option levy, with
$4,900,000 levied per year beginning July 1, 2003, should be placed on the May 21, 2002 ballot.
This levy will replace the Library Local Option Levy currently on the tax bills of Eugene taxpayers.
The average tax rate for the new levy is expected to be $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. A typical
Eugene taxpayer is estimated to pay an average of$80 per year over the four-year period of the levy
(assuming an average home with an assessed value of $143,300 and a real market value of
$173,600).
NOW, THEREFORE, based upon the above findings,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EUGENE, a
Municipal Corporation of the State of Oregon, as follows:
Section 1. A city election is called for the purpose of referring to the legal electors of the
City of Eugene a measure authorizing a four-year Library Local Option Levy in the amount of
$4,900,000 per year beginning July 1, 2003, for the funding of library operations.
Section 2. The City Council orders this city election to be held in the City of Eugene,
Oregon, concurrently with the general election on the 21 5t day of May, 2002, in accordance with the
provisions of Chapter 254 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, and the ballots shall be counted and
tabulated and the results certified as provided by law.
Section 3. The City Recorder is directed to give not less than ten days' notice of the city
election by publication of one notice in the Register Guard, a newspaper published in the City and
of general circulation within the City.
Section 4.
This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
The foregoing Resolution adopted the 25th day of February, 2002.
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City Recorder
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