Board hears polling and preliminary proposals for library and public safety levies; staff to bring measures to evening meeting

Washington County staff and pollster EMC Research presented the board with polling results and preliminary levy replacement proposals for the Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) levy and a county public safety levy, and asked whether staff should bring the two preliminary proposals for board action at the evening meeting.

Ian Stewart of EMC Research summarized the survey of 2025 likely Washington County voters. "The sample size here is 400 interviews," Stewart said, split into two groups of about 200 respondents each so the library and public safety measures could be tested in alternating order. He warned the split sample produces a roughly seven‑point margin of error for subgroups but said the polling shows stable favorability for both WCCLS and public safety services.

Stewart reported high favorability ratings for the library system (about 86% favorable) and a strong but slightly lower net favorability for Washington County public safety (roughly 62% favorable). He said the order of measures on the ballot affects initial support: in the split sample, library‑first sequencing kept support for both measures near 60%; public safety first produced slightly lower initial support for public safety. Stewart also said reading the full ballot language increased the intensity of "strong" support for both measures compared with brief descriptions.

Lisa Tattersall, manager of Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS), described the library levy preliminary proposal as a replacement of the current 22¢ per $1,000 assessed value levy with a single 37¢ levy (a net increase of 15¢). Tattersall said staff estimate five‑year total revenue at about $188.9 million and first‑year revenue of roughly $34.7 million if voters approve the replacement. She told the board the levy provides about 45% of WCCLS revenue in fiscal year 2024–25 and that the levy funds core services including children and teen reading programs, central shared services for cataloging and material delivery, open hours and basic materials access.

Marnie Kyle and other staff presented the public safety preliminary proposal, which recommends a replacement levy rate of 66¢ per $1,000 of assessed value (current public safety levy rate is 47¢). Staff estimated five‑year revenue at about $329 million and first‑year revenue at just over $60 million. The county said the measure would continue and enhance funding for the sheriff's office, the district attorney's office, community corrections and juvenile services, and would support jail capacity, prosecution of major crimes, victim services, responses to deadly synthetic opioids and programs intended to reduce recidivism.

Board members voiced general support and appreciation for the steering‑committee process and data‑driven approach. Several commissioners said they were ready to move the preliminary proposals to the evening board meeting for approval to continue the ballot timetable. Staff asked whether the board wanted the proposals placed on the evening agenda; the discussion concluded with staff directed to bring the preliminary proposals forward for the board’s consideration that evening and to return on June 3 with draft ballot titles and explanatory statements.

Next steps: staff will present draft ballot titles and explanatory statements to the board on June 3, conduct a final voter survey in July, pursue secretary of state review for outreach materials and prepare final ballot materials for the August filing deadlines if the board refers the measures.