Levy for Library, Parks and Recreation Services Wins Voter Approval

November 8, 2023 -  Voters in Corvallis approved a renewal of the five-year local operating levy that funds livability services from the Parks and Recreation Department and the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, along with annual social services grants.

Measure 2-141 received a strong endorsement from voters after ballots were tabulated on November 7, 2023. Preliminary reports indicate the levy renewal passed by a margin of more than 66% approval. The levy is a renewal of an existing five-year levy that had funded similar services and was set to expire on June 30, 2024. The new levy starts on July 1, 2024 and will generate between $6.5 million and $7.3 million annually for five years.

The outcome of the ballot measure preserves important services, including current operating hours and program offerings at the Corvallis Library, and provides funding for beloved institutions such as the Osborn Aquatic Center, Corvallis Community Center (C3), and the Majestic Theatre. The new levy also provides $480,000 in annual social services grants to support local providers in Corvallis that provide shelter and support services, food security, intervention services, childcare, mental and physical health services, and family support.

“The Corvallis community spoke with a clear voice when they voted to renew the levy this week,” said City Manager Mark Shepard. “City staff in all departments have worked hard over the years to earn the trust of the community through efficient and effective service delivery, and I look forward to building on that shared trust in the coming years.”

The local option levy is an important part of the “three-legged stool” that represents the current funding approach for City services. The City Council implemented the first leg of the stool in 2018 by creating new public safety fees to fund services at the Corvallis Police Department and Corvallis Fire Department. The second leg was the levy itself, which consolidated voter support for Library and Parks and Recreation services around a predictable renewal cycle every five years. The third leg of the stool is the 911 service district in Benton County, which was implemented in 2019 to create a more sustainable funding model for 911 emergency dispatch services in the community.