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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Mail Tribune 100: Dec. 31, 1915, continued ... 'E.J.' Aguirre of Jacksonville is Rogue Valley's first arrival of 2016 ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area bans most drone use ... Mail Tribune 100: Dec. 31, 1915, continued ... 'E.J.' Aguirre of Jacksonville is Rogue Valley's first arrival of 2016 ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area bans most drone use ... OUR VIEW Our View: Buildings belong with the Jackson County Library District Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News A lease agreement signed this week between Jackson County and the new county library district appears to have resolved concerns that the county might not turn over ownership of the 15 branch library buildings in five years. But while library district board members may be satisfied, the agreement doesn't provide any guarantee that will happen. Let's be abundantly clear on one thing: The county should turn over the buildings to the district as soon as the bonds that built them are paid off, and not a moment later. District board members had reason to be suspicious of the county's motives regarding the buildings, which were constructed with bonds approved and paid for by the voters. Property tax limitation measures passed in the 1990s made a voter-approved library operating levy permanent and rolled it into the county's tax base, but the county later shut down the library system, saying it could not afford to continue providing the service, but kept the money that the levy approval produced. The county Historical Society, also supported by a voter-approved levy, suffered a similar fate. The libraries eventually reopened with management outsourced to an out-of-state company to save money, and with sharply reduced hours. The voters of this county had other ideas, however, and approved creating a library service district separate from the county government, with its own independent tax base. The county still owns the buildings, and must retain that ownership until the bonds are paid off, which will happen in five years. At that point, however, the county should turn them over to the library district. Under the deal reached this week, which still must be signed by county officials, the county agrees to "negotiate with the district in good faith during the term of this lease" about transferring the buildings when the bonds are retired. An agreement to negotiate, however, is not an agreement to transfer. Assuming the deal gets signed, the county has five years to work out the details and do the right thing. Everyone who supported the library system and the new district will be watching. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501