EMC poll: roughly 60% initial support for 32¢ and 37¢ library levies; staff recommends May polling and May 27 board decision

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. — Washington County staff on March 11 presented results from a January mixed‑mode EMC Research survey showing roughly similar voter support for two proposed library levy replacement rates — 32¢ and 37¢ per $1,000 of assessed value — and recommended a second round of polling in early May followed by a May 27 board work session and potential evening action to refer the measures to the ballot.

Assistant County Administrator Marne Kiel opened the presentation, saying the packet and schedule were designed to give the board “a successful outcome in November” and asking whether the board was comfortable with a 15‑cent increase over the current levy level and with a compressed timeline leading to a June filing deadline.

The poll asked likely November voters about the library system, priorities for services and support for two replacement levy amounts. Jessica Fulski Sanchez, principal with EMC Research, said the county’s library system and Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) received “overwhelmingly positive” ratings: roughly half of respondents rated libraries “excellent” and about 40% “good.” She summarized the overall sentiment as unusually favorable for a public agency: “These numbers are overwhelmingly positive, relative to what we, typically see, when it comes to ratings…