State Budget: Good and Bad News
On Thursday, January 5, Glenn R. Miller, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Library Association, distributed the following information regarding the status of the state's budget.
Good afternoon, PaLA Members.
As you may have heard, Governor Corbett today implemented a budget freeze on a variety of state agencies and programs that fall under his control. The total amount of money ordered to be frozen is $160 million.
For library services, the news is mixed.
The good news is that the Public Library Subsidy is not included in this action. The full amount of $53,507,000 is expected to be paid.
The bad news is that the three other library line items are impacted.
• The Library Access program, which includes POWER Library, Ask Here PA, and interlibrary delivery among other services, is targeted for a 5% freeze—from $2,970,000 to $2,821,000, a loss of $149,000.
• Library Services for the Visually Impaired and Disabled also will see a freeze of 5% of its budget—from $2,702,000 to $2,567,000, a reduction of $135,000.
• Finally, the operations of the State Library will face a 3% freeze—from $2,060,000 to $1,998,000, a cut of $62,000.
In all, the total amount of library funding frozen by this action is $346,000.
Clearly, we would have preferred that these funds not be frozen but the Governor took action in response to lagging revenue reports for this current fiscal year. Halfway through the year, state revenues collected total $487 million less than what was projected when the budget was passed last June. While there is some time left in the year for revenues to improve (and some signs that the economy is beginning to recover), the Governor chose to act now to avert a much bigger problem later.
It seems clear that budgets will continue to be difficult until the economy recovers. The Governor will present his budget plan for the next fiscal year when he addresses the General Assembly on February 7. We’ll provide you with more details when his next budget is released, and will keep you posted of any new budget developments should they occur.
In the meantime, please continue to speak up for libraries at every opportunity—through contact with elected officials, in town hall meetings, via email and letters, and through social and traditional media. We have exciting plans for the year ahead, and thanks for continuing to spread the good word about library services.
Glenn
Glenn R. Miller
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Library Association
Important news about dedicated library taxes.
Tuesday’s election [Nov. 9] brought some great news for two local libraries—voters’ overwhelming approval of dedicated library taxes. Congratulations to supporters of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and the Whitehall Township Public Library, Lehigh County. Visit the PaLA website www.palibraries.org for more details.
HCS 1/15/2012