LIBRARY DISTRICT FORMATION

    Over the past few years, Clackamas County was engaged in a dialogue with the cities regarding the creation of a stable funding source for libraries. The County General Fund has been the source for the majority of Oregon City and other Clackamas County and city libraries funding for several years. Beginning in 2007, the financial position of the County changed dramatically with elimination of $12 million in federal funding.

    An independent review of the Clackamas County Library system recommended the creation of a library district. Based on this recommendation and discussion with city partners, the County proposed on the November 2008 ballot the formation of a library district to make up for the loss of funding. That vote passed by a large margin and will go into effect July 1, 2009. The district tax rate of about 39 cents per $1,000 of assessed value will allow every library to achieve the Oregon Library Association’s 'threshold' level of service.

    The district will include all cities that adopted an intergovernmental agreement to join the district. Oregon City adopted such a resolution.

WHAT THIS MEANS IN OREGON CITY

    Beginning July 1, 2009 the Oregon City library will return to a 7-day per week schedule with a total of 50 weekly hours of operation. This is the first step in a process that will eventually include adult programming, an increased budget for materials, and hiring a full-time library director