Senate Budget Roundup (Part Two: Film Tax Credit & the Libraries)
As we mentioned in Part One, the Massachusetts Senate Ways & Means Committee is responsible for crafting and releasing the Senate’s budget. This is the third step in our state’s budget process. See: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/Process.
The first step of the budget process was the release of the Governor’s Budget. The second step was the release of the House budget and the finalization of the House Budget.
To review the Senate FY 2017 Budget, see:
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2017/Senate
First, some “good news”!
The Senate budget does not contain any language to change or end our state’s film tax credit program. (Note: we need to be on the lookout for anti-film tax credit amendments to the Senate budget.)
The breakdown on the Library line items
| Line item | Name | Amount |
| 7000-9101 | Board of Library Commissioners | $1,147,491 |
| 7000-9401 | State Aid to Regional Libraries | $9,883,482 |
| 7000-9501 | State Aid to Public Libraries | $9,000,000 |
| 7000-9506 | Technology & Resource Sharing | $2,376,564 |
| 7000-9508 | Massachusetts Center for the Book | no funding amount present in the senate budget |
Ask your State Senator to co-sponsor three amendments for the libraries!
| Line item | Name | Sponsor |
| 7000-9101 | Board of Library Commissioners | Senator Kathleen O’Connor-Ives |
| 7000-9401 | State Aid to Regional Libraries | Senator Michael Rush |
| 7000-9506 | Technology & Resource Sharing | Senator Kathleen O’Connor-Ives |
Remember, also, to make sure your State Senator cosponsors Senator Eric P. Lessor’s budget amendment for the Mass Cultural Council – Line item 0640-0300!
How to find who your state senator is click here:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx
Stay Tuned!
Tomorrow: Part Three – MOTT (Mass Office of Travel and Tourism)