Save Springfield Library!

The City of Springfield, Oregon is planning to cut 22% of the public library's budget in 2026. This would mean fewer books, fewer events, fewer librarians, and fewer open hours. Help us save our library by asking city council (if they move forward with their proposed payroll tax) to set a rate that maintains library funding!

    until City Council's public hearing on the proposed payroll tax

    Libraries are for everyone!

    Step into the Springfield Library and you’ll find more than just books - you’ll find people of all ages and walks of life. Toddlers & parents gathered for storytime. Students finishing homework in a study room. Job seekers printing their resumes from public computers. Neighbors swapping gardening tips and book recommendations. The library is a resource center, adapting to meet the needs of our community by filling gaps in education, entertainment, technology, and even basic necessities.

    Public libraries are not free, but they are priceless.

    Here are just some of the things the Springfield Library provides:- access to thousands of books, movies & video games for all ages -
    - the only free early literacy program in town -
    - quiet study spaces for students -
    - free weekly tech help for seniors -
    - free internet and computer access -
    - affordable copy and printing services -
    - free access to local newspapers -
    - opportunities for social and professional networking -
    - free meeting space for community groups and activities -
    - family passes to local museums & entertainment centers -
    - resources to services addressing issues like housing and addiction -
    - a sense of belonging -
    and much more!    Despite all this, Springfield Public Library is already the lowest funded library for a town our size in the state of Oregon.

    The library ensures that everyone, no matter their income or background, has the tools they need to learn, connect, and thrive.

    Research shows that downtown libraries attract people to city centers and are major contributors to neighborhood vitality and downtown activation. Library patrons often visit cafes, restaurants, stores, and other cultural venues before or after a visit to the library. With a steep increase in room reservations since the pandemic, libraries have become essential third-place workspaces for remote workers. Reading programs at the library can help improve academic achievement for at-risk students, and library access also appears to boost high school graduation rates.

    “Cutting the library’s budget will have a big effect on services to our community. You don’t cut out the heart to save the body. Use payroll taxes to balance the budget.” -a Springfield resident at the Sept 2025 Town Hall

    Help save our library!

    Make the biggest impact by showing up at City Hall on Monday December 8th at 6 pm to speak at the public hearing for the proposed payroll tax!

    Members of the public will have 2 minutes to share why the library is important to you and your community, and to ask city council to set a rate for the payroll tax so that there are no cuts to the library.You can show up to the meeting in-person or on Zoom! The Zoom link will be available inside the meeting agenda, posted here on the Thursday before a meeting.Not sure what to say or what to expect at a city council meeting? Here are some pointers!

    Want to do something to help right now?

    Email the mayor and city councilors!Mayor Sean VanGordon
    Ward 1 Councilor - Michelle Webber
    Ward 2 Councilor - Steve Moe
    Ward 3 Councilor - Kori Rodley
    Ward 4 Councilor - Beth Blackwell
    Ward 5 Councilor - Andrew Buck
    Ward 6 Councilor - Alan Stout    See which councilor represents you

    Not sure what to say? Here are some talking points!

    Only have a few minutes right now?

    Share this post on Instagram or Facebook, and tag everyone you know in Springfield!

    Feel free to tweak this caption: The City of Springfield, Oregon is planning to cut $500,000 or 22% from the library's budget in 2026. This would mean no new books, fewer events, and a reduction in open hours. Help us save our library by asking city council (if they move forward with their proposed payroll tax) to set a rate that would keep the library funded at current levels. Show up at Springfield City Hall on Monday December 8th at 6 pm to speak at the public hearing for the payroll tax. We must protect our library! Follow @savespringfieldlibrary to learn more

    Save Springfield Library!

    Got 30-60 minutes?

    Write a letter to the editor about why you love the library and want to see it well-funded. Having your letter published in a local newspaper is one of the most effective ways to draw the attention of your elected officials and raise public awareness about an issue. Find talking points & where to submit your letter here.ORIf you don't have one already, run down to the Springfield Public Library and sign up for a library card! It's free for all residents within city limits or for households within the SPS district with a child ages 0-18 at home. Higher rates of active library cardholders may help secure more grant funding in the future.

    Questions or want to get more involved? [email protected]

    We are so thankful for these local community organizations and leaders for supporting the Springfield Public Library!

    Lane Library League

    United Academics of the University of Oregon

    Kitty Piercy, former Eugene mayor and state representative

    Get email updates about the library's funding

    Photos courtesy of Friends of Springfield Library or found on unsplash.com

    Save Springfield Library

    Frequently Asked Questions

    This section is a work in progress! Help us answer community FAQs by emailing your questions to [email protected] :)

    Why is Springfield planning to cut library funding?Cities all across Oregon are struggling with rising inflation, as well as legal limitations (set by Measures 5 and 50) on property tax growth, which is the largest revenue source for local governments. Despite already operating leanly compared to peer cities, the City of Springfield is facing a $4.5 million budget deficit by the 2027-2028 fiscal year. To address this, the Mayor's Fiscal Stability Task Force made several recommendations, including a $500,000 cut to the library.

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    What is the Mayor's Fiscal Stability Task Force?    Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon assembled this task force in January 2025 to evaluate budget options and recommend a path toward long-term fiscal health. Mayor VanGordon appointed primarily corporate representatives, including International Paper, PeaceHealth, CDC Management Corp, Swanson Group, and the Chamber of Commerce. Only 7 of the 12 task force members live in Springfield. The task force met nine times to brainstorm and develop budget deficit solutions, then their final recommendations were presented to the City Council in May 2025.

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    What else did the Task Force recommend?    1. Reduce library spending by $500,000
    2. Implement a shared employer-employee payroll tax
    3. Adjust Police and Fire levies to reflect full service costs
    4. Introduce red light traffic cameras to enhance safety and support public safety staffing
    5. Reduce Police overtime
    6. Review and potentially sell City- and SEDA-owned properties
    7. Advance business retention and expansion strategy
    8. Examine Gateway UGB development strategies
    9. Support reforms to Oregon’s property tax system (Measures 5 and 50)

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    What's this payroll tax?    The Task Force recommended a shared employer-employee payroll tax to help fund core city services. The proposal includes “guardrails” to ensure simple implementation and prevent rate increases in the first three years. The City is currently considering a 0.1% tax rate, which would be $30-50 a year for most Springfield workers. The payroll tax would apply to anyone who works in Springfield, even if they live elsewhere.

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    How would the payroll tax help the library?    If the City does move forward with a payroll tax, a very minor rate increase would help maintain current library services! If the tax is increased by just 0.01% (so 0.11% total), the additional $400,000 of revenue generated would, as City Councilor Stout said, “plug a hole in our library funding”. Unfortunately the payroll tax is not set to be implemented until 2027, so the library will almost certainly face a cut in the meantime. But because of the guardrails, we need the city to decide the tax rate NOW before it's implemented if we want to save the library.

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    How does Springfield's proposed payroll tax compare the Eugene's existing payroll tax?    Eugene implemented a payroll tax of 0.44% in 2021. The tax is paid by nearly everyone who works in the city of Eugene and by businesses within city limits. Minimum wage workers, as well as people who are employed by the federal or state government, are exempt. In contrast, Springfield is proposing 0.10% (or perhaps 0.01 or 0.02% higher to support the library), though without an exemption for minimum wage workers. To clarify, Springfield residents who work in Eugene are already paying a payroll tax to Eugene. The Springfield payroll tax would mean that anyone who works in Springfield, whether they live here or not, is contributing to our city services.

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    When is Springfield deciding on the payroll tax?    The City Council is holding a public hearing on the payroll tax on December 8th, 2025. Then Council will vote to direct city staff to move forward with implementing the payroll tax. It's expected that Council will decide the payroll tax rate and regulations in early 2026. Springfield workers would start seeing the payroll tax deductions on their paychecks in early 2027.

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    Why can’t Springfield just raise property taxes to fix the budget issue?    Oregon state laws (Measures 5 and 50) limit how much property tax cities can collect and how fast property values can grow for taxation. These laws restrict Springfield’s ability to increase local revenue, even when service costs increase.

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    I don't want a new tax, what other solutions are there?    Unfortunately, the city needs more revenue just to maintain current city services. No one likes being taxed, but that's how we fund everyday essentials like roads, wastewater systems, schools, parks, and public libraries. One "perk" of a payroll tax is that it won't affect retired seniors on a fixed-income! But other solutions could include a library levy, a countywide library district, or creative solutions like Philadelphia and San Francisco's tax on sugar-sweetened beverages that funds their public health programs.