Senate Ways & Means Budget Part Two: Libraries
One of MALC’s priority areas is supporting our public libraries: http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/the-malc-challenge-for-the-next-governor-be-a-champion-of-arts-culture-and-the-creative-economy/
This blog post focuses on the funding/budget line items for our state libraries in the Senate Ways and Means Budget 2016 Budget Proposal.
Here’s the link to the 2016 Proposed Senate Budget: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2016/Senate
As of this post we are aware of two key library related amendments that need our support:
- Senator Jason Lewis’ amendment to Budget Line Item 7000-9501: State aid to public libraries
- Senator Jennifer Flanagan’s amendment to Budget Line Item 7000-9508: The Massachusetts Center for the Book (MCB)
Please contact your State Senator to request that he or she sign on in support of the above two amendments. Additionally, please request they also sign on in support of Senator Eric Lesser’s amendment for the Mass Cultural Council Budget Line Item 0640-0330.
To find out who our state senator is and how to contact them: http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.aspx
Below is the breakdown of how the proposed funding for Libraries in the 2016 Senate Ways & Means Budget compares to the final House 2016 Budget:
BOARD OF LIBRARY COMMISSIONERS
7000-9101
For the operation of the board of library commissioners
$1,098,431 (An increase of $21,000 from the Final House Budget $1,077,431)
7000-9401
For state aid to regional public libraries; provided, that the board of library commissioners may provide quarterly advances of funds for the purposes authorized in clauses (1) and (3) of section 19C of chapter 78 of the General Laws, as it considers proper, to regional public library systems throughout each fiscal year, in compliance with the office of the comptroller’s regulations on state grants, 815 C.M.R. 2.00; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, in calculating the fiscal year 2016 distribution of funds appropriated in this item, the board of library commissioners shall employ population figures used to calculate the fiscal year 2015 distribution; provided further, that the board shall provide funds for the continued operation of a single regional library system to serve the different geographic regions of the Commonwealth and shall require that physical locations be maintained in both eastern and western Massachusetts to serve the residents of those regions; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the library of the Commonwealth shall receive not less than 39.4 cents for each resident of the Commonwealth
$9,692,731 (Same funding level as final House Budget)
7000-9402
For the talking book library at the Worcester public library
$446,828 (Same funding leve as final House Budget)
7000-9406
For the Braille and talking book library in the city known as the town of Watertown, including the operation of the machine lending agency
$2,468,121 (A decrease of $ 48,572 as the House final budget funding level was 2,516,693)
7000-9501
For state aid to public libraries; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no city or town shall receive funds from this item in any year when the appropriation of the city or town for free public library services is below an amount equal to 102.5 per cent of the average of the appropriations for free public library services for the 3 years immediately preceding; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the board of library commissioners may grant waivers in excess of the waiver limit set forth in the second paragraph of section 19A of chapter 78 of the General Laws in fiscal year 2016 for not more than 1 year; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, of the amount by which this item exceeds the amount appropriated in chapter 194 of the acts of 1998, funds shall be distributed under the guidelines of the municipal equalization grant program, the library incentive grant program and the nonresident circulation offset program; and provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, any payment made under this item shall be deposited with the treasurer of the city or town and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the public library of that city or town without appropriation
$9,000,000 (A decrease of $847,300. The House final amended budget funding level was at $9,847,300)
7000-9506
For the technology and automated resource sharing networks
$2,676,564 (A decrease of $400,000; The House final amended budget funding level was at $3,076,564)
7000-9508
The Massachusetts Center for the Book (MCB), a public-private partnership charged with raising funds to develop, support, and promote programming for libraries throughout the Commonwealth. The MCB sponsors programming that expands the circle of readers and that deepens the understanding of and appreciation for the past, present, and future of the book and of the book arts in Massachusetts; it emphasizes the central role libraries play in civic and cultural life.
This Line Item was not included in the proposed Senate Ways & Means Budget. (It was not in original House Ways & Means House budget, but the amended House final budget included $200,000 for this line item)
Written by Kathleen Bitetti