Library district approves FY27 proposed budget, board signs off on technical accounting changes

The Multnomah County Library District—oard approved its proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and directed staff to submit the package to the Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission.

Annie Lewis, the district director, and Katie Shiffley, finance and facilities director for the library, told commissioners the district is budgeting about $127 million in transfers to support library operations in FY27 and recommended a levy rate of $1.22 per $1,000 of assessed value, below the legal maximum. Shiffley described two technical adjustments requested by the Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission to align line-item names with local budget law.

"The first change is to adjust the existing 18.2 million transfer in from other funds line item by splitting it out into two lines," Shiffley said, explaining one line would show $13.2 million transferred in from the district general fund and the second would show a $5 million payment returning from the county capital bond fund. She added the second technical change renames a $94 million contingency line as "reserved for future expenditures" to better reflect its purpose.

Commissioner Moya proposed the amendment formalizing those two technical changes; the motion was seconded and adopted by roll call vote. Vice Chair and present commissioners voted in favor and the resolution was approved as amended.

Board members stressed the changes were accounting reclassifications and would not increase spending or alter district policy. "These are minor reclassifications required for local budget law and do not represent a spending or policy shift for the library," Shiffley said.

The library district's budget will return to the board for detailed work sessions and departmental presentations, with public hearings and further budget deliberation scheduled in the coming weeks as part of the FY27 process.