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Washington County adopts WCCLS funding methodology and service boundaries; Beaverton does not support the recommendation
Summary
The Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted a partner‑recommended funding methodology and amended service boundaries for the county’s library cooperative, WCCLS, and directed staff to begin implementation steps including intergovernmental agreements and a centralized collection RFP.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved partner recommendations from Washington County Cooperative Library Services (WCCLS) on Oct. 28 to establish a countywide funding methodology and revised service boundaries for library services.
Lisa Tattersall, manager of WCCLS, presented the collaborative process used to develop the recommendation, including data on staffing ratios, population‑based allocations and changes to boundaries that reflect municipal lines and travel‑time proximity. The methodology uses a base per‑population staffing ratio to determine each library’s baseline FTE allocation and applies an average FTE cost to calculate base funding. The recommended implementation strategy includes a phased approach: each partner would receive at least a 5% increase in fiscal year 2026 allocation compared with FY2025; the board supported a three‑month fund‑balance target for WCCLS to manage cash flow and emergencies; and WCCLS plans centralized collection management executed through a forthcoming RFP.
Tattersall said the cooperative process yielded broad partner support: three nonprofit partners (Aloha Community Library Association; Cedar Mill & Bethany Community Library Association; Garden Home & West Slope Community Library Association) and eight cities (Banks, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, North Plains, Sherwood, Tigard, and Tualatin) voted to support the methodology at partner meetings. The City of Beaverton did not support the recommendation, Tattersall said. Board members emphasized the need for continuing local input as centralized collection and implementation move forward.
Commissioners praised the collaborative process and said the plan balances countywide standards with local library character. "This has been a monumental effort," one commissioner said, and another asked staff to continue engaging city managers, library staff and nonprofit partners to address local concerns raised during the process.
The board voted 5–0 to adopt the partner recommendations. Staff will proceed to draft intergovernmental agreements with library partners, launch the RFP for centralized collection management, and implement the phased funding allocations across the levy cycle through June 2031.
What happened next: with the motion carried, staff will work with partner cities and nonprofit libraries on IGAs and implement the RFP and centralized collection strategy; the board and staff emphasized ongoing engagement with local stakeholders during implementation.
