Medford, Ore. — The Jackson County Library District Board voted Thursday to lower the tax amount on property owners to support the districts fifteen branches.
Meaning property owners will pay .52 cents per thousand feet of assessed property value, instead of the initial .60 cents.
That also means the district will need to fill close to a million dollars in budget shortfalls.
“That’s because we expected to have short-term bridge financing from the county.” Jill Turner, Chair of the library district board says the money will allow them to keep services at their currently levels.
During the meeting, frustrated residents questioned the boards actions in maintaining extended hours for branches like Ashland.
” There are branches that receive additional hours. Ashland being the largest where $400k is being allocated to bring them up to 40 hours.”
Resident and Medford Library Volunteer, Chris Durham questions why money was allocated to pay for extended library hours in Ashland When the county’s largest branch- Medford, is open for 16 hours less.
And where Ashland city officials offered to cover the cost of extended library hours. A small button on his shirt from his time campaigning for the district in May reads: Libraries for All
“The campaign slogan was libraries for all, not, libraries for all and special treatment for some. Durham said.
And while the district board prepares to negotiate with county leaders in a couple of weeks, Durham says his passion to see fair and balanced libraries amenities isn’t about to fade.
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