WCCLS official outlines proposed Washington County library levy and its local impact

The Hillsboro School Board heard an informational presentation about a proposed Washington County local option library levy — identified in the presentation as Measure 34-345 — and what it would fund if voters approve it in November.

The presentation, given by Tammy Wallen, library director for Hillsboro Public Library speaking on behalf of Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS), outlined how the levy would support countywide library operations, student programs and shared services. "As a public employee, I am subject to political restrictions under Oregon law, so I am sharing only neutral and nonadvocacy information today," Wallen said.

Wallen told the board that WCCLS combines funding and services for nine cities and three nonprofit associations operating 16 full-service library locations across Washington County and a 24/7 digital library at wccls.org. She said the levy currently accounts for about 45% of WCCLS revenue, with the remaining 55% coming from a transfer from the county's general fund. WCCLS directs roughly 67% of its spending to local library allocations and 33% to central services that link libraries across the county.

The presentation described services the levy would sustain that serve students and families: children's and teen programs (book clubs, STEAM/maker programs, Oregon Battle of the Books), kindergarten-readiness supports, homework and test-prep resources, and free internet and public computers. Wallen said more than 10,000 students participated in library programs last year and WCCLS has issued 83,549 library cards to public school students since 2019. She also noted systemwide usage figures: WCCLS holds about 1.5 million catalog items, courier trucks delivered roughly 2.5 million items in fiscal 2023–24, there were more than 2.4 million visits and over 7.2 million total checkouts; by borrowing rather than buying, library users saved an estimated $140 million last year.

Wallen summarized the ballot measure's tax impact and schedule: it would replace an existing 22¢ levy that expires in June 2026 with a fixed rate of 37¢ per $1,000 of assessed value effective July 2026 through June 2031. Using the presentation's example, a typical homeowner with an assessed value of $348,600 would pay about $129 annually (about $10.75 monthly); that represents an increase of roughly $54 per year, or about $4.55 per month, over the current levy. Wallen said if the measure fails, WCCLS would reduce open hours, book purchases, delivery frequency and digital resources, and that some central services linking libraries would be scaled back.

Katie Ryan, identified in the meeting as vice chair of the Hillsboro Library Board and speaking as an advocate, said the levy has long been renewed on multi‑year cycles and that the currently proposed rate replaces a renewal that itself replaced a prior five‑year levy: "this current levy that is going to be on the ballot is a replacement levy, but it is replacing a levy that was itself a renewal levy. So that 5 year levy replaced another 5 year levy." Ryan added that the amount was not proposed lightly.

Board members and community commenters expressed support for the library system's multilingual story times, interlibrary loan convenience and campus partnerships. No formal board action or vote on the levy was taken during the session; the presentation was informational and the presenters noted limits on advocacy by public employees.

The board was given a web resource for more information (wccls.org/levy) and members were offered follow-up contact information for questions about the levy materials.

Ending: The discussion concluded with thanks to the presenters and no changes to any district policy or position recorded during the meeting.