Final Stretch of State Budget Process: Call to Action
This week marks the final stretch of the state budget process. Members of the House/Senate Conference Committee met June 25 to begin working out the differences between the House and the Senate versions of the state budget bill. Members of the Conference Committee include: Sens. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), Dave Burke (R-Marysville), and Sean O’Brien (D-Cortland) and Reps. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton), Jim Butler (R-Dayton) and Jack Cera (D-Bellaire).
The committee received updated state revenue estimates from both the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) and the Legislative Service Commission (LSC). Overall, they are anticipating the following additional amounts for spending above the revenue forecasts they presented in March: $116 million more for FY 2020 and $73 million more for FY 2021. Their total General Revenue Fund (GRF) tax receipts projection is $24.13 billion for FY 2020 and $24.53 billion for FY 2021.
A significant amount of work will take place in the next few days as the budget bill must be passed by both chambers and signed by the Governor before the start of the new fiscal year (FY 2020) on Mon., July 1.
FINAL CALL TO ACTION:
There is still time to contact members of the House and Senate Leadership as well as members of the Conference Committee. Please e-mail or call them before Fri., June 28 and urge them to keep the current language in HB 166 that sets the PLF at 1.70% for FY20-21.
There is still time to contact members of the House and Senate Leadership as well as members of the Conference Committee. Please e-mail or call them before Fri., June 28 and urge them to keep the current language in HB 166 that sets the PLF at 1.70% for FY20-21.
When contacting Leadership and the Conference Committee, please use the following talking points:
- State funding for public libraries has been cut by more than $113 million since 2001 – a 23% reduction in funding over the last 17 years with no adjustment for inflation.
- 48% (almost half) of the total funding for Ohio’s public libraries comes from the state through the PLF.
- Libraries have a strong ROI by returning $5 in economic value to Ohioans for every $1 we spend. Our libraries have the highest use per capita in the nation!
- Our only primary sources of revenue are state funding and/or a local property tax levy. Unlike other local governments, libraries DO NOT have the authority to raise funds locally through sales tax or income tax. Also, libraries DO NOT receive casino revenue.
Contact Information for Leadership and Conference Committee (PDF, 2 pages)
