Multnomah County Library lays out staffing plan, capital needs and a smaller digital‑holds policy to balance tighter property‑tax forecasts

Multnomah County Library directors presented the district and department budgets and a multi‑year staffing plan, saying property‑tax growth has slowed while personnel and internal‑service costs continue to rise. The board heard that FY26 will be a year of transition—several bond‑funded buildings will be fully operational in FY27—and that the library is using one‑time resources and a narrowly targeted set of changes to maintain services while planning for longer‑term adjustments.

Director of Libraries Annie Lewis told the board the FY26 approved library‑department budget totals $123.3 million, with ongoing spending of $117.3 million and $5.9 million in one‑time special projects. Katie Shifley, finance director for the library, said the district is operating at a $1.4 million deficit for FY26 under a continuing levy rate of $1.22 per $1,000 assessed value and is forecasting further deficits in FY27 and beyond. The library forecast includes the option of raising the levy to the voter‑approved maximum rate of $1.24 in…