State Budget Still Undecided: OLC’s Advocacy Efforts Continue

The House and Senate Leadership are continuing to meet behind the scenes to work out their differences and reach a final agreement on the FY20-21 state budget bill, House Bill (HB) 166. As we mentioned in previous communications, the PLF was automatically cut on July 1 back to 1.66%. We are continuing to advocate for the 1.7% that was included in the Senate version of the bill and we are advocating for a true-up once the conference committee reaches a final agreement as to the PLF percentage for FY20-21.

Call to Action
We need your help! We need library directors, fiscal officers and members of your boards of trustees to email or call your Ohio House members.

Tell them that state funding for Ohio’s 251 public library systems through the Public Library Fund (PLF) was automatically cut on July 1.

Now is NOT the time to be cutting funding for Ohio’s public libraries and Ohio’s 8.5 million library users.

  • All of Ohio’s public libraries are in the middle of Summer Reading Programs to prevent the Summer Slide.
  • More than 140 public library locations are providing Summer Food Service Programs so children don’t go hungry.
  • Ohio’s public libraries are also preparing for the online portion of the 2020 Census so that all Ohioans can be counted.

Urge your Ohio House member to:

  • Keep the Senate language that sets the PLF at 1.7% for FY20-21. This will help to maintain our state funding regardless of the final tax reform package passed by the General Assembly.
  • Support language in the final conference report for a true-up so that public libraries will be made whole for the month of July and not impacted by the delay in passage of the state budget bill.