The May 18 election could usher in a “do or die” situation for the Stayton recreation options and library facilities, if the two tax levies on the ballot pass or fail.
“Both of these levies are necessary to maintain services at the Stayton Public Library, to open and maintain services at Stayton Family Memorial Pool, and provide maintenance and upgrades at Stayton’s many parks and trails,” said Susan Brandt, a proponent of the levy. “After the failure of the levy in November, Stayton Library had to lay off three people and cut hours to two more. The library no longer has a budget for books or other library materials and has cut 15 service hours.”
Brandt said the library provides materials and programs for children, teens and adults, and an outreach program that visits local schools.
“The library also presents a wonderful summer reading program that supports families reading together and encourages children to continue to learn and develop skills over the summer,” she said. “In addition, the library provides computer and Wi-Fi access to those in need of technology support. During the pandemic, despite the building being closed, the library has adapted in a variety of ways to continue to provide much needed services to support the community.
“The Stayton Family Memorial Pool has been closed since November due to COVID restrictions and the HVAC system not working,” she added. “While closed, the city has been performing maintenance in preparation for reopening and has been pursuing grants to repair the HVAC system.”
Stayton Mayor Hank Porter said city council split a proposed five-year option levy to encourage people get behind the library, pool and parks.
“The city has only one more opportunity to pass a replacement levy option before the current levy expires,” Brandt said. “By splitting the levy, the asking amount was able to be set closer to operational needs for these services. A new approach to the levies opens the opportunity for the city to respond more adeptly to the changing times and better meet the needs of the services in question.”
At its Feb. 22 meeting, city officials split a proposed single levy into a library levy of $0.40 per $1,000 of assessed value and a recreation levy of $0.50 of $1,000 of assessed value. Council members rejected a single levy for library, parks and pool for $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value.
The current four-year levy voted in on 2016 will expire on June 30. According to city officials, lack of funding from a local option levy will have a “devastating impact on the operations of the city’s quality of life amenities” if the two levies fail.
“The pool will remain closed indefinitely, but we hope to open it when we safely can,” Porter said. “Although the library remains operational, it is not yet open for browsing.”
Porter said the operations, services and programs of the library will remain significantly reduced, and without further funding, additional library services may have to be eliminated. Since there will be no reserve funds for park amenities or upgrades, the ongoing care and upkeep in the parks will be limited to general fund dollars available.
“It’s all about reopening the pool and library safely,” Porter said. “We need funding to do that.”
Passage of the levies will ensure that library services can return to pre-pandemic levels, the pool can reopen when repairs have been made, and the city parks can be properly maintained, Brandt said.
“We are hopeful that the community will vote yes on both levies so that the city can continue to support the services that the library, pool, and parks provide that make Stayton livable,” she said.
As COVID-19 restrictions ease, and with new funding available, Porter noted area residents can be “out and about and enjoy these public places again.”
Dr. Amy Sutkus, her husband, and their two children, ages 9 and 11, wrote the council stressing the importance of the pool, parks and library.
“We are just one family of many in this community whose lives have been enriched by our pool, library and parks,” Sutkus said. “People are living here, growing up here, and becoming good and resilient people because of a community that cares about each other. The pool, parks and library are an important part of this. They keep us strong, and they keep us healthy.”
Should the levies fail, Sutkus hopes the community will “stretch to find resources to support both short- and long-term planning for these community necessities.”
Brandt added, “We hope the public will understand the importance of supporting both of these levies in order to continue to provide access to the services the community has come to rely on, services that contribute so much to making Stayton a desirable place to live.”
