Washington County asks board to explore 10¢ library levy increase, adopt ‘base’ service model and centralize book purchasing

Washington County officials on Monday asked the Board of Commissioners to formally explore raising the county library levy by 10 cents — from 22¢ to at least 32¢ per $1,000 of assessed value — and to adopt a county-funded “base service” for the cooperative library system while centralizing purchase of physical collections to reduce system costs.

The proposal, presented at a board work session by Marnie Kyle, an assistant county administrator, and Lisa Tattersall, manager of Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS), would set a county-supported base of 45 open hours per week at each library, fund centrally managed digital and physical collections and infrastructure, and preserve local flexibility for additional hours and services financed by partner cities or nonprofits.

Why it matters: County staff and the consultant Marina and Company said the package is intended to create more equitable, consistent service across the county’s 16 library buildings while closing a projected funding gap. The recommendation couples a levy increase with operational efficiencies — chiefly centralized selection and purchasing of physical materials — that staff and the consultant estimate could yield roughly $4,000,000 in annual savings.

WCCLS structure and current funding

Tattersall described WCCLS as a cooperative linking 16 library buildings operated by nine city partners and three nonprofit partners; those partners provide local staffing, collections, programs and services while the county funds system-wide infrastructure and support. Staff said partner contributions currently make up about one-third of total system revenue. Tattersall said a lack of a consistent method to delineate what county versus local funds pay for has produced uneven service levels across the system.

What sta…