From Gabrielle Sloane Law, member, Oakland Library Commission.

Oakland libraries are a necessary public good for our community. It is critically important to keep them fully funded, not only because of the services they provide, but because they are where we model and practice the better world we know to be just around the corner—a place where all are welcome, where no kid goes hungry, where you can learn anything, where community gathers, where nothing is for sale but everything is free to use, whether it’s seeds, tools, or your new favorite book.

We love our libraries in Oakland. That’s why 80% of us voted for measure C. The measure was carefully written with a $14.5 million MOE requirement to ensure these precious funds would never be misused—directly or indirectly—to cover the cost of anything except our libraries.

The city has been openly failing to meet this MOE requirement since 2024. Every day this continues is a promise broken to the people of Oakland.

What is being brought to you today after years of LC reports to city council, public advocacy, increasingly frantic budget meetings, letters, comments, and more—is not a plan to restore the MOE—it is merely the concept of a plan.

I urge to you to demand from Finance a comprehensive plan that describes concrete steps to restore the entire MOE. Otherwise, we’re all just kicking the can down the road—again.

My name is Kathryn Sterbenc. I'm Advocacy chair of the Friends of the Oakland Public Library board and former chair of the City’s Library Commission.

It is critically important to fund libraries, as they are a safe space for kids to learn. They connect Oaklanders of all ages with knowledge, job opportunities, and other services. This is especially important in light of federal attempts to cut grants to libraries.

The Friends of the OPL board is glad that the Council is engaging with the Maintenance of Effort provisions. However, this proposal would refund only $2.4 million of the $2.7 million Maintenance of Effort for libraries, which would still fall short of the requirements of the ballot measure.

The plan lacks meaningful specifics to guarantee that the return to Maintenance of Effort will occur as promised. The City has often struggled with long-term budget planning, and this plan seems primarily aspirational. The Council should proceed with urgency to make a more concrete plan.

Library advocates remain concerned that failing to adequately fund the Maintenance of Effort over an extended period of time may eventually make the entire parcel-tax collection vulnerable to a legal challenge.

More than 80% of Oakland voters voted yes for Measure C to collect these funds exclusively for library services. Don’t betray their trust. Demand a more concrete plan to return to Maintenance of Effort. Thank you.