Oregon Public Broadcasting

Multnomah County leaders and library supporters announced  Tuesday plans to ask voters to approve two library measures in the next 11 months.  They say the measures would keep local libraries open and reduce their reliance on temporary funding sources.

Rob Manning / OPB

Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen

Recently, county chair Jeff Cogen said he wanted to wait three years before asking voters to approve a library district. Now, he's agreed to place plans for a district before voters on this November's ballot.

The library system in Multnomah County now relies on local voters to regularly approve temporary library tax measures.

And while voters have approved the measures, library supporters and county leaders prefer the stability of a permanent taxing district.

Part of Cogen's reluctance regards the current timing: the latest temporary library levy is about to expire.

So, the latest plan Cogen has announced calls on voters to pass another temporary levy – in May.

"This allows us to keep the system in place, to put a safety net in place, and then we can ask the voters in November to weigh in," Cogen said.

The May-November plan also has support from other members of the county commission, a county workers' union, leaders of the library foundation and Friends of the Library.