Scappoose library board asks council to endorse five-year operating levy for May ballot

Library trustees and staff asked the Scappoose City Council to publicly endorse a temporary operating levy that would appear on the May 2026 primary ballot.

Jocelyn Jonas, identified herself as the outgoing chair of the Scappoose Public Library Board, told the council the library board voted in June 2025 to seek a five-year operating levy of 10¢ per $1,000 of assessed value (an example cited was about $30 annually for a $300,000 assessed value home). Jonas said the district’s permanent tax rate was established more than three decades ago at about 25.36¢ per $1,000 and that the library ranks ‘‘in the bottom 20%’’ of Oregon libraries in per‑capita funding. She said circulation and program attendance have grown substantially — citing roughly 52,000 items circulated in 2017 versus about 103,000 in 2025 — while staffing remained about the same, and that without new revenue the library would need to cut services, hours and staffing.

Jonas asked the council for a ‘‘unanimous public endorsement’’ and said the library’s ballot title and explanatory statement had been reviewed by legal counsel and would be finalized by the library board. Council members asked clarifying questions: leaders confirmed the levy is for operating expenses only (no construction) and discussed the constraints on creating a new permanent tax rate under Oregon law and the mechanics for expanding a library district boundary (which would require a separate legal process and voter approval).

Council response and next steps: Council members agreed to consider a resolution endorsing the levy and to place the item on a future agenda; the mayor said staff would draft language and the council could vote at the next meeting. No formal endorsement or resolution was adopted at the Jan. 5 session.