October 27, 2017
T he C olumbia P ress
8
Library tax levy would keep library open
The Columbia Press
Voters are being asked to
support a five-year property
tax levy to support contin-
ued operation of Warrenton
Community Library.
It’s a renewal of the current
five-year levy, which expires
at the end of the fiscal year
(June 30, 2018). The new
levy, at a higher rate, would
run through the 2022-23 fis-
cal year. The money can be
spent only on library opera-
tions, such as the part-time
library site manager’s sala-
ry, her assistant’s salary, the
purchase of books and refer-
ence materials, the payment
of rent and utilities, and
maintenance.
The library at 160 S. Main
Ave. has more than 19,000
books, audiobooks and mov-
ies, plus four computers for
public use. There are story
times, magic shows and oth-
er events there each week.
The site is open 1 to 5 p.m.
six days a week and is man-
aged by the two part-timers,
plus 20 volunteers.
There are more than 4,000
library card holders and ev-
ery Warrenton card holder
has the right to check out
books from Astoria and Sea-
side libraries.
If approved, property own-
ers would be levied 33 cents
for every $1,000 of assessed
value. Owners of a home as-
sessed at $100,000 would pay
$33 per year, for example.
“The library is not support-
ed by the city of Warrenton’s
annual budget, but is only
The city is unlikely to keep the library open without funding.
supported by this five-year
levy,” supporters wrote in a
piece posted on the library’s
Facebook page. “Without
this levy, library operations
will cease entirely.”
Ballots can be mailed – al-
though postmarks aren’t
counted, so make sure to mail
them early. Ballots also can
be turned in at Warrenton
City Hall until 7 p.m. Nov. 7.
Please join us in support of Warrenton Community Library with a yes vote on Measure 4-189.
The following people and businesses care so much about the library, they paid to show their support here.