Jackson County, Oregon rejects tax to reopen libraries
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Jackson County, Oregon in the United States voted to reject measure 15-75, which would have provided funding to reopen county libraries, closed since April 6. The new levy, at US$0.66 per US$1000 of assessed property value, would have provided funding to open the 15 libraries left unfunded after the U.S. Congress did not renew the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act. A similar levy was defeated in November, 2006.
County Commissioners Jack Walker and Dave Gilmour blamed the defeat not on a lack of support for libraries, but a reticence to pay additional taxes. Gilmour noted an oncoming recession and called libraries "just one more casualty of the Iraq War," while Walker said voters reacted against tax-and-spend measures.
Related news
edit- "Funding gap forces library closures in Jackson County, Oregon" — Wikinews, February 14, 2007
Sources
edit- Robert Plain. "Voters just say 'no'" — Ashland Daily Tidings, May 16, 2007
- Press Release: "Summary Report: Special Election May 15, 2007" — Jackson County, Oregon, May 15, 2007
- Press Release: Kathy Beckett, Jackson County Clerk. "Jackson County Voters' Pamphlet: Special Election May 15, 2007" — Jackson County, Oregon, Accessed on May 16, 2007 ((PDF))