Supporters of the “Save Our Shelter” Measure 21-134 gathered on Wednesday evening to celebrate the landslide election that will establish a five-year tax levy to fund the Lincoln County Animal Shelter and animal control services. County Commissioner Bill Hall and Shelter Animal Control Technician Susie Hamilton are pictured with a couple of the shelter’s newest residents. (Courtesy photo)

Five-year tax levies overwhelmingly OK’d for shelter, library district



Lincoln County voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved five-year tax levies for both the Lincoln County Animal Shelter and the Lincoln County Library District.

With 99 percent of the ballots counted, the county elections office reported a total of 13,966 people casting ballots countywide, representing a 52.42 percent voter turnout.

Measure 21-134 was a local option tax to allow for Lincoln County to continue operating a full-service animal shelter.

This measure, which was on the ballot across the county, was supported by voters with 9,948 yes votes (71.42 percent) compared to 3,980 no votes (28.58 percent). Passage of this operating levy ensures that the animal shelter and animal control services are fully funded for a five-year period.

Measure 21-133 was a five-year local option tax benefiting the library district and funding libraries in Lincoln City, Newport, Siletz, Toledo, and Waldport. The operating levy was already in place, and the measure served to renew it for another five-year period.

The library measure was approved with 5,797 yes votes (71.67 percent), compared to 2,292 no votes (28.33 percent). Only residents living outside of the cities of Newport, Lincoln City, Toledo and Yachats voted on this measure. Newport, Lincoln City and Toledo residents already support their libraries through city taxes, and Yachats is not part of the library district.

Also in Tuesday’s election, two city council positions were decided. Sharon Cannon ran unopposed for the Lincoln City Council Ward I position, and Greg Holland ran unopposed for the Waldport City Council.



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