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 of public entities.”

Why it matters: county staff and the library steering committee are deciding whether to ask voters for a smaller replacement that preserves a defined base of services (staff cited a minimum 32¢ rate to preserve 45 hours of base service and centralized collection management) or a larger, 37¢ rate the steering committee recommended to provide longer‑term budget stability.

Key poll findings and details

- Initial support: EMC reported about 60% support for both the 32¢ and 37¢ levy questions in an initial, “clean read” question asked before respondents were reminded about library services.

- After information: when respondents were shown what each levy would pay for, support for both amounts rose to about 70%.

- Cost to homeowners: EMC told respondents the approximate increase in household cost — about $39 per year for the 32¢ proposal and about $57 per year for the 37¢ proposal — and the dollar framing produced somewhat higher support than stating only the levy rate.

- Exposure to a negative message and other ballot items: after respondents heard a negative argument invoking inflation and taxes and were informed about a public safety levy also on the ballot, support dipped to about 66–67% for the library asks on the final question.

- Voter mood correlation: EMC noted overall voter optimism in the county (about 73% saying the county is going in the right direction) correlates with willingness to support revenue measures; respondents who said things were “off on the wrong track” were less likely to support the levy.

- Soft support: staff emphasized that roughly half of the survey’s supporters were only “somewhat” committed and would need persuasion to reach an election day majority.

Steering committee advice, staff analysis and commissioners’ comments

County staff and steering committee members tied the polling to the governance and funding evaluation work. Staff reported that centralizing certain functions and committing to a 45‑hour base level of service produce a minimum funding requirement near 32¢. Steering committee discussion — and several commissioners’ comments during the meeting — favored the 37¢ ask to provide “breathing room” against future assessed value volatility and inflation.

Commissioners raised messaging concerns: several members said the percentage increase (about 15¢ on top of the current levy, which they described as a substantial percentage change) can be politically salient even when the dollar impact per household is modest. One commissioner urged presenting the monthly/annual household dollar increase alongside the levy rate so voters do not misinterpret the percentage change.

Timeline and next steps

Staff recommended EMC conduct a second, final poll during the weeks of May 5–16 to capture voter sentiment as close to the election as possible. Under the proposed compressed schedule staff would present polling results at a May 27 afternoon work session, and then bring levy proposals to the board’s evening business meeting May 27 with a staff request to adopt ballot title and referral. The board previously directed staff to file measures no later than June 3; staff said they would file the measures the day after adoption if the schedule holds and noted they can begin safe‑harbor review with the Oregon Secretary of State’s office as content is available.

Board members present expressed general comfort with the recommended May polling window and the compressed decision timeline but stressed that the county’s communications and public education plan must be robust if the board pursues the larger 37¢ ask.

Ending

Staff said they will work with the steering committees and EMC to finalize the third survey, monitor other regional ballot activity (including any public safety or housing measures that could appear on the same ballot), and return to the board with results and proposed ballot language consistent with the board’s timing direction. No formal board vote or referral occurred at the March 11 work session.