It took the mayor's tie-breaking vote on Wednesday to put the countywide library taxing district question to Albany voters in November.

Councilors Sharon Konopa, Ralph Reid Jr. and Jeff Christman voted in favor, while Floyd Collins, Dick Olsen and Bessie Johnson voted against it.

Before casting his vote Mayor Dan Bedore said, "I believe it's the responsibility of the voters to make their choice."

The mayor and the rest of the council expressed numerous reservations about a new tax district that would fund operations and set policy for Albany's two libraries.

Library supporters have proposed a district tax rate of 68 cents per $1,000 of assessed value and suggested that Albany lower its taxing rate by a like amount.

With Wednesday's vote, Albany joins Millersburg, Lebanon, Sweet Home, Waterloo, Tangent, Halsey and Sodaville in becoming part of a district if voters create one in November. Harrisburg and Brownsville have opted out.

It will be up to supporters to collect enough signatures to move the question to the ballot. Linn County Commissioners have said as a practice they do not put taxing districts on the ballot on their own, preferring to rely on signature collections.

The total number of signatures required is 15 percent of the county's registered voters, which always is in flux.

If the election were held today, 8,850 signatures would be needed. County election officials recommend 20 percent more as a cushion against invalid signatures.

Although Konopa voted in favor, she said, "I want to know why staff is so supportive of a district. I'm thinking maybe it's to have the option of raising taxes in the future. What else bothers me is the district will benefit more people outside Albany than inside, and I feel Albany would end up subsidizing the whole county."

Reid was wary of giving the go-ahead without knowing the names of the five board members who would run the district.

Olsen said there was no assurance the directors would keep the downtown Carnegie library open if funds became tight.

Collins did not want to diminish the value of the district supporters' five years of work, but he said the need for other tax-supported services was greater. He mentioned police and fire services and transportation needs.

For Johnson, creating a district would be "a form of contracting out public services, and I disagree with that."

Christman said the initial net affect to the city budget was zero but people should know future councils could increase taxes to make up for any shortfalls.