Campaign Kick-off!

Save Our Library PAC meeting Wednesday, July 14, at 6:30 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (next to Good News Gardening on Tucker Road) to start moving forward on structuring the SOL campaign for November, including setting up committees for budget/finance, fundraising, the campaign, and communications.

Going for a Special District Again in November

The Hood River County Board of Commissioners today (July 12) voted to put a special library district on the ballot again in November. Polling results so far show people overwhelmingly in support of the library in principle and also willing to vote for a lower tax levy combined with other funding sources. The special district, if approved, would be administered by five elected board members. The exact level of the proposed tax levy will be decided later.

The really good news about the polling results, by the way, is that ONLY the precincts that defeated the previous measure were polled.

Upcoming Meetings!

Next Monday (July 12 at 1:30pm) is the County Commission meeting where a decision will be made about the library district type we will attempt to pass in November. There will also be polling results shared (even if only preliminary). In order to prepare for this meeting, the library supporters will be meeting on Sunday, July 11 at 3pm at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church - the one around the corner from Good News Gardening on Tucker Road.

JULY 6 MEETING CANCELLED

Message from County Commission Chair Ron Rivers:


"I have cancelled the July 6th meeting. After talking to the pollsters, our July 6th meeting would be to premature to garner any trends from the polling. The Board of Commissioners will meet on Monday July 12th at 1:30 pm. The reason for the earlier time is because of the resolutions that must be written that afternoon for both cities. We should know much more about trends at this later date."

Contributions Needed for Polling Effort!

The Save Our Library group is sending out a call for donations to support a polling effort. We would like to hire a professional to do some polling for us so we can figure out why exactly the May measure did not pass, and what exactly people would be willing to vote for in November. We will then share these polling results with the County Commissioners in order that they may make a decision on a creating a workable measure that has the best chance of passing in November. In order to get this polling done in a very timely manner we need to raise some money, and the sooner the better. Click on "support / contact" above to see the address for donations and the info that must be provided with the donation. Thank you!

Decision Meeting July 6

The County Commission will be deciding at their July 6 meeting whether the next ballot proposal will be a special or service district. They will also establish a preliminary (subject to further hearings) levy rate at that time. Meanwhile the Save Our Library Options Committee is committed to do some polling of voter preferences and gather cost comparisons for the two kinds of districts.

TWO MEETINGS UPCOMING:

Library supporters meeting Saturday, 11 a.m. at Riverside Church (4th & State) to prepare for County Commission meeting Monday, 6 p.m., at County Building (6th & State).