Washington County commissioner meets with Tualatin council; library funding and local services highlighted

Washington County Commissioner Chris Snyder met with the Tualatin City Council in a work-session appearance to discuss countywide issues raised by councilors, including the proposed public library levy distribution, local access to services and a newly opened behavioral health center.

Snyder said the proposed library levy is structured as a five-year renewal that would replace a levy expiring in June 2026; the levy proposal discussed by the county would raise the per-thousand rate to about 37¢ for voters in the county. He described the levy as an attempt to establish a standardized base level of service across jurisdictions while identifying efficiency gains through centralized collections and other system changes.

Why it matters: Councilors from southeast Washington County told the commissioner that equalized, standardized service levels can create equity problems for areas with poorer transit access or fewer local social services. Councilors asked the commissioner to press for distribution options that avoid sudden funding reductions for local libraries. Several mayors were reported to have asked county leadership to revisit distribution and adjust the phasing to reduce large near-term cuts for some libraries.

Other topics covered - County services and access: Snyder described plans to hold regular two-way meetings with city councils and said he would provide his office contact information to councilors for follow-up on localized issues such as streetlights and roadwork that may fall under county responsibility. - Behavioral health and treatment center: Snyder said the new Center for Addiction and Triage (CAT) is a multiagency site intended to provide coordinated services and reduce reliance on emergency departments; he noted that additional co-located sites are planned, including a forthcoming Beaverton location, to improve regional access. - Public safety and county policy changes: Snyder and councilors discussed a recent county policy change allowing parole and probation officers to carry weapons while on field visits; Snyder said the policy seeks to address higher fieldwork demands and clarified officers are not required to carry weapons. - Clean Water Services leadership: Snyder noted an executive director resignation at Clean Water Services and the appointment of an interim internal director.

Council reaction and next steps Councilors repeatedly urged the commissioner to seek an equitable distribution for the library levy that does not create ‘‘loser’’ cities, asked for phased adjustments to minimize sudden cuts, and asked for continued dialogue and local follow-up. Snyder said he will report council feedback back to the full commission and offered to return on a regular basis to the council for updates.