COTTAGE GROVE – Cottage Grove residents flooded City Hall on Monday night to show their support for the public library for one of the last times before the city council decides on a final budget for the fiscal year.

To balance the city’s 2026-27 budget, the library is facing a proposed 56% budget cut. A public hearing was held on the proposed budget for the city council to consider changes permitted under Oregon Budget Laws, as deemed appropriate based on public testimony.

The budget committee already approved the 2026-27 budget. This public hearing was required by the Oregon Revised Statutes and must be held prior to the city council adopting the budget resolution. The purpose of the hearing was to receive public comments on how the city spends its money.

The proposed 2026-2027 budget reflects changes to the library model. Although this is only one of several options under consideration, the change would involve moving from a staffed facility to a model with a full-time head librarian supported by volunteers. The library is currently staffed with 3.5 full-time equivalent workers. The change proposes having one FTE worker and the remaining staff volunteers.

Many folks have expressed concern about the dramatic reduction and have suggested that the city council consider 2.7 FTE workers for the proposed budget as a bare minimum to support the library and its services.

People gathered on the sidewalk outside City Hall with signs and posters pleading to save the library.

“I believe in the libraries and what they mean to the community, not just to adults, and not just to kids,” said Nanci Strickland, as she stood in the rain with a rally poster. “Many people get not just answers that they want or reading that they want, but it gives them a safe spot to be, and I think it’s important enough that we need to find a way to support it in a bigger way.”

Around a dozen of the comments that the council received were about improving the funding for the library. Samantha Duncan addressed the council on behalf of the Friends of the Cottage Grove Public Library.

“Tonight, I would like to encourage you to support a budget for the library, which will provide adequate funding for at least three staff members, so that the library can maintain a schedule that will accommodate most library users working during open hours. This is important, both for accessibility and safety, and will help prevent staff burnout.” Duncan said.

She explained that the Friends were organized in 1980 to support the library’s work, not to engage the abilities of the library or its staff. Their mission is to promote and stimulate the use of the library’s facilities, resources, and services, and focus attention on the benefits of the library as a community asset.

“The friends are very willing to support however we can through volunteerism and additional fundraising for needs that come up in this budget cycle, but we will need guidance and direction from library staff in order to do so,” she said. “This has been an incredibly stressful time for everyone involved, including current library staff who are working hard to keep up with day-to-day activities with short staff, as well as getting ready for summer reading.”

Jessica Bittner, a Dorena resident but CG library card holder, engaged for the first time in a city manner. She recited appendix nine of the city council procedural rules, which states that council members are encouraged to conduct themselves so as to bring credit upon the city as a whole and to set an example of good ethical conduct for all citizens of the community.

“What I take from these rules is that you are duty-bound to serve all the community interests, not your personal biases,” Bittner said.

Others brought up a grassroots petition that over 1,100 Cottage Grove residents have signed in support of funding the library.

“That number is significant. That is not just the Friends group or just a handful of angry residents. This is a strong response from Cottage Grove citizens, and it is a clear message to you from your constituents,” said Miranda Gehrke, a member of the Cottage Grove Friends of Democracy.

Gehrke also pointed out that $75,000 from the Housing Development Cost Assistance Program Fund had already been transferred to the general fund for the Warren H. Daugherty Aquatic Center.

On May 11, the council adopted Resolution 2177, which amended Resolution No. 2001 and allows the city council to transfer funds from the Program Fund. The Housing Development Assistance Programs fund provides grants and loans for the development and preservation of affordable housing.

On May 19, the council approved a transfer from the Program Fund, which has not been used since 2022, to fund the aquatic center.

“Tonight, the issue is not whether funding exists. The issue is whether this council is willing to prioritize the library,” Gehrke said. “People are watching how their elected officials respond when the public overwhelmingly supports preserving a vital community resource, and I just want to remind everyone here tonight of one final number. It only takes 654 signatures to begin a recall.”

The council’s minimal response followed public testimony. Councilor Jim Settlemeyer was the only council member to address the budget and suggested rearrangements in funds for the next meeting.

“I would like to plant a seed. As we look at the Promotions Fund, we’ve had many of the library support statements that talk about how a functioning library with FTE could keep it open for a chunk of time and how much that is a promotion for our city,” he said. “I’m not saying that it controls the Promotions Fund, but as we go through each of those items, I’d like us to keep in mind what we should do with perhaps the library as something to look at as we look through that promotions fund, and also the fact that there might be other ways to fund things in our discussions at the next meeting.”

The Community Promotions Fund allocates money to organizations such as Spirit of Bohemia Mining Days, South Valley Farmers Market, Family Relief Nursery, and South Lane Wheels. This fund has only been approved for $98,000 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for June 22 at 7 p.m.