After the Lebanon City Council approved a county-wide library resolution on Jan. 23, its supporters asked for one more assurance. The resolution allows Lebanon to be included in the area of the district when it goes to the voters. Members of the Linn Library League hope to put it on the November ballot. First, other cities in the county will be asked to pass resolutions similar to Lebanon's, the League will gather 11,000 signatures and the County Commissioners will hold a public hearing.

So that property owners don't feel they have been double-taxed for library services, the League is asking cities with libraries to drop their tax rate in the first three years that the library district exists - if voters approve it - by the amount they now spend on their library.

The League's May Garland said they understand that they can't tie the hands of city councils and budget committees, but want a consensus statement from each city that the council supports the intention of not assessing citizens for library costs for three years. She got the assurance from the Lebanon council.

"I think it's going to make a difference when the voters vote on this," Garland said.

The council gave the assurance by consensus rather than a vote because it cannot bind a future council.

The city's tax rate is $5.14 per $1,000 of assessed value, said City Administrator John Hitt, and $.55 of that goes to the current library.