Call to Action

Call to Action: Contact Ohio Senators to Restore Library Funding  The Ohio House Finance Committee accepted an omnibus amendment to the draft state budget. Unfortunately, it does not include language to maintain the Public Library Fund (PLF) at 1.7%. The draft budget now moves on to the Senate for their consideration.  Please contact your Senator as soon as you’re able in your role as a private citizen and ask your friends and family members to do the same.   Type in your address here to find out which is yours.   What to share with your Senator: (you can copy & paste this into an email)  I'm disappointed in the lack of action by the Ohio House. Please maintain critical funding for libraries at 1.7%. If the state budget bill is not changed, libraries will be cut on July 1, 2021, and funded at 1.66% of the General Revenue Fund.  Libraries will also be negatively impacted by the proposed 2% personal income tax rate reduction. Please “hold libraries harmless” when considering tax cuts.  Libraries are not automatically eligible for the COVID-19 relief funds currently being discussed or the American Rescue Plan funding. That funding is going directly to local governments from the federal government. None of it is earmarked for libraries.   There was misinformation about this circulating through the House. Here is a copy of the testimony that OLC provided to clarify the point.     Call to Action: Contact Ohio House Members The Ohio House Finance Committee introduced their version of the budget today by accepting Substitute House Bill (Sub. HB) 110. It does not include an amendment to keep the Public Library Fund (PLF) at 1.7% but would let it revert back to 1.66%. If the fund goes down to 1.66%, the loss to Ohio libraries is estimated to be about $10 million.  Please contact your state representative in the House today in your role as a private citizen and ask your friends and family members to do the same.   What to share with your representative:  Ask them to support the Public Library Fund at 1.7%. The Substitute House Bill only supports it at 1.66%  Ask them to "hold libraries harmless when considering tax reductions"    Don't know who your elected official is? Visit this web page to find out.