City Council Vote on November 5th will determine fate of Jacksonville’s Library
You need to be aware that the Jackson County Board of Commissioners is attempting to divest the County from its responsibility for funding and operating the County-wide library system. The system comprises 14 branches in Medford (main), Applegate, Ashland, Butte Falls, Central Point, Eagle Point, Gold Hill, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Prospect, Rogue River, Ruch, Shady Cove Talent and White City.
The County claims that due to the loss of $23 million of the $24 million O&C timber money funds, it cannot afford to operate the system any longer at current levels. As such, the County Commissioners are now approaching each city council in the county and requesting participation in a new, county-wide special library taxing district. The district would be a separate entity with no affiliation with Jackson County. At the October 15 Jacksonville City Council meeting, County Commissioner Doug Briedenthall was on-hand to deliver this news personally.
In a nutshell, if Jacksonville’s City Council votes to participate in the new library district and the upcoming May, 2014 library levy passes, our branch library stays open. If our City Council votes to opt out of the district and the levy passes, a newly-elected library board could/would close the Jacksonville branch. If the City Council votes to participate and the levy passes in the county but fails in Jacksonville, the branch would likely remain open since funding would be secured and available. If the levy fails in the county as a whole, all branch libraries will close on June 30, 2014. (The main Medford branch will remain open unless the levy fails county-wide, in which case it will then close June, 2015.)
Today, the County Commissioners are recommending a funding level that calls for a new tax levy NOT TO EXCEED 60 cents/$1000 assessed value. Currently, the 14-branch library system operates on about a 30-35 cent funding level. The Commissioners have stated that the higher proposed operating budget would enable more branches to be open for longer hours. In Jacksonville’s case, our branch is open on Saturday’s thanks to the financial backing from the Friends of the Jacksonville Library. These expanded hours are not the case at all branches, however.
There are more questions than answers right now about this issue. I spoke with Mayor Paul Becker today (10/16/13) – he has scheduled a Jacksonville City Council Special Study Session for NOVEMBER 5 at 5 pm at Old City Hall to discuss the issue. This session is open to the public and will be held prior to the regularly-scheduled 6 pm council meeting. This is a good time to show up and learn about the issue. It is highly likely that the council will vote on the matter that evening in regular session. The mayor informed me on 10/17/13 that County Commissioner Don Skundrick will be on-hand to make comments and field questions. In order for Jacksonville voters to vote “yes” or “no” on funding the libraries in the May, 2014 election, 4 “yes” votes from the City Council are needed on November 5.
Having covered City Council matters for 5+ years, I have no doubt that a strong public response and lobbying effort can and will make a difference. For those wishing to express an opinion either way, showing up at the study session and the regular meeting is critical. You should be prepared to speak briefly to the council at the appropriate time – your opinion matters and could sway sentiment. One council vote could make all the difference to the future of the library.
I will continue looking into the matter and will advise you of my findings online at www.jacksonvillereview.com and on the Jacksonville Review Facebook page. In the meantime, I strongly suggest contacting your elected City Councilors to insure 4 “YES” votes to take the battle to the next step.
Jacksonville City Councilors:
Mayor Paul Becker 541-899-1231 x 307 mayor@jacksonvilleor.us
Councilor Jim Lewis 541-899-7023 councilorlewis@jacksonvilleor.us
Councilor Paul Hayes 541-899-1213 councilorphayes@jacksonvilleor.us
Councilor David Jesser 541-973-4343 councilorjesser@jacksonvilleor.us
Councilor Dan Winterburn 541-899-9110 councilorwinterburn@jacksonvilleor.us
Councilor Criss Garcia 541-326-5920 councilorgarcia@jacksonvilleor.us
Councilor Jocie Wall 541-261-4102 councilorwall@jacksonvilleor.us
Sincerely,
Whitman Parker, Publisher Jacksonville Review
Email: Whitman@thejacksonvillereview.com
(541) 899-9500, 541-601-1878.
Posted October 17, 2013