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Hermiston approves three‑year library district contract amid council concerns about funding formula
Summary
Hermiston City Council voted Jan. 20 to renew a three‑year contract with the Umatilla County Special Library District, authorizing the city manager to sign the agreement after councilors aired concerns about how the district’s funding formula allocates money among libraries.
The Hermiston City Council voted Jan. 20 to authorize the city manager to sign a three‑year contract renewing library services with the Umatilla County Special Library District, following extended discussion about the district’s funding formula.
City Manager Mark Smith briefed the council on long‑running concerns about the district formula and its impact on residents of the 97838 ZIP code who live outside city limits but receive services. Smith said that under the district’s current formula Hermiston would receive about $130,000 in the 2025–26 distribution; he told council that including the 8,700 residents of ZIP code 97838 in the district’s base threshold portion of the formula would increase the city’s portion to roughly $250,000.
Heather Strada (district director) spoke during public comment and outlined how the district uses its permanent tax rate. "So the way it works is we have a permanent tax rate, and every person in the county, except for if you live in Incorporated Hermiston since we get that tax money," Strada said, explaining the district retains 20% for district operations—including three staff who coordinate training, cataloging and an early‑literacy outreach program—and distributes roughly 80% back to member libraries by formula.
Strada described early‑literacy outreach that serves county children, noting the district’s early‑literacy coordinator visits 53 sites countywide and 22 in Hermiston and provides story times, book boxes and training. She also said the district pays consortium (Sage) fees and courier costs that support cross‑library borrowing.
Council members pressed for more detail on the population numbers and asked whether the district would negotiate the formula; staff said the current contract is three years and the district indicated it does not want to renegotiate the formula now. Councilors also discussed the option of exploring annexation or other long‑term structural changes, and asked for additional briefings on the city’s concerns.
Councilor Brown moved to authorize City Manager Smith to sign the agreement as presented; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
