Multnomah County Library Taxing District Creation (November 2012)
A Multnomah County Library Taxing District Creation measure was on the November 6, 2012 ballot in Multnomah County, where it was approved.
This measure sought to create a taxing district specifically to fund the Multnomah County library system. If approved, the district levy would be set at a rate of $1.22 per $1,000 of assessed value. Currently the libraries are funded through renewable levies.[1] On August 2, the County Commission voted unanimously to place the taxing district question on the November ballot.[2]
Election results
| Measure 143 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 199,245 | 62.61% | ||
| No | 118,993 | 37.39% | ||
Election results from Multnomah County, Current Election Results
Text of measure
Language on the ballot:
| “ | Shall there be a dedicated library district fund for Multnomah County library hours, services; rate limited to $1.24 per $1,000 assessed value beginning 2013?[3][4] | ” |
Support
Those in favor of the permanent taxing district for the libraries stated at the commission meeting held before the vote to place the measure on the ballot that they saw the support of the renewable levy in May as a sign by county residents that they wanted to support library services. Also stating that temporary levies are too uncertain for the libraries which deserve a permanent tax.[1]
Opposition
The city of Portland, through the Office of Management and Finance have stated that this would take away taxes from the city as well as from the Portland Children's Levy. This would be because property taxes are capped so if a new taxing district is created then less taxes will go to another source. They also stated that the tax increase would go towards the county general fund rather than to fund libraries in the county.[5]
Additional reading
- Library Journal, "Multnomah County Puts Library District on the Ballot," August 17, 2012
- The Oregonian, "Ballot measure likely that would allow Multnomah commissioners to seek special library tax district," April 3, 2012
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Oregonian, "Library supporters urge Multnomah County commissioners to refer permanent taxing district to November ballot," July 31, 2012
- ↑ Willamette Week, "Multnomah County Puts Library Taxing District on Fall Ballot," August 2, 2012
- ↑ "Multnomah County Elections"
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Willamette Week, "City Says Library Tax Would Gobble Children's Money," July 19, 2012
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