Board refers library and public-safety replacement levies to November ballot

Washington County commissioners voted June 24 to refer two replacement local-option levies to the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot: a countywide cooperative library levy and a public-safety levy. Both votes were unanimous.

The proposed library levy would replace the county's expiring 22'¢ (per $1,000 of assessed value) levy with a 37'¢ rate, an increase of 15'¢. County staff estimated the five-year revenue at about $188.9 million and first-year revenue of roughly $34.7 million; the estimated cost for the average homeowner in year one was about $129 (about $10.75 per month). If approved by voters the levy would take effect July 2026 and run through June 2031.

Nut graf: County staff said the library levy provides critical funding for the Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS), funding roughly 45% of WCCLS's revenue in FY 2024-25, and supports open hours, interlibrary loan services, children's programs, and shared countywide infrastructure linking nine cities and three nonprofits.

The public-safety levy proposal would replace the current 47'¢ rate with a 66'¢ rate (a 19'¢ increase). Staff estimated five-year revenue at roughly $329.3 million and first-year revenue around $60.5 million; for the average homeowner, the first-year cost would be about $230 (about $19.17 per month). The county said the levy funds the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney's Office, Community Corrections and Juvenile Services and would support investigating and prosecuting theft, child-abuse cases, responses to fentanyl and other dangerous drug activity, victims' services, jail funding and prevention programs including mental-health response teams and reentry services.

Board action and votes: The board held public hearings for both measures and then voted to adopt the ballot titles and explanatory statements and place both measures on the November ballot. The library packet and the public-safety packet, including the ballot title and explanatory statement and preliminary financial estimates, were included in the board materials and were presented by county communications and assistant county administrators.

Ending: County staff will proceed with administrative steps to place the measures on the ballot; if voters approve them in November they would go into effect July 2026.

Speakers cited: Philip Bransford (communications officer) presented the library proposal; Erin Calvert (Assistant County Administrator) presented the public-safety proposal. Commissioners Fey, Schneider, Snyder and Vice Chair Therese voted in favor of placing both measures on the ballot.