Senate Ways and Means Budget Recommendations Released
May 13, 2015
Celeste Bruno
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@state.ma.us
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means announced its FY 2016 budget recommendation on May 12, 2015. This recommendation increases what was passed by the House by $485,128 across all of the MBLC's line items.
"Local libraries are important resources for families, providing informal educational opportunities and fostering intellectual curiosity and a love of learning for all ages," Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Karen Spilka said. "The budget invests $9M in direct grant aid to municipal libraries to hire staff, purchase materials, and continue to provide educational programming."
The priorities of the FY 2016 Legislative Agenda, State Aid to Public Libraries (7000-9501) and Technology and Resource Sharing (7000-9506), both saw increases compared to the House budget.
Funding for State Aid to Public Libraries (7000-9501) was brought back to its pre-9C FY 2015 level of $9 million. "Without state aid, our library would be unable to afford membership in the CW/MARS consortium and we would fail to provide even the most basic services expected of a modern library," a Western Massachusetts librarian said.
Technology and Resource Sharing (7000-9506) was level funded to the FY 2015 9C amount of $2,676,564. "Words cannot express how important resource sharing is to us," a South Coast librarian said. "Without it, we could not meet the needs of our patrons."
Members of the Senate have until Thursday, May 14 at 5 p.m. to file amendments to the budget. The budget will be debated on the Senate floor during the week of May 18. Following its passage, the House and Senate versions of the budget will be reconciled in a conference committee.
Below is a breakdown of the funding:
|
Item No. |
Item Name |
FY 2014 Budget |
FY 2015 Budget |
FY 2015 Funds Available after February 9C |
FY 2015 Governor's 9C Reductions |
FY 2016 Governor's Budget House 1 |
FY 2016 House Budget |
FY 2016 Senate Budget |
| 7000-9101 | Board of Library Commissioners | $1,012,047 | $1,120,047 | $1,077,431 | $ (42,616) | $1,098,431 | $1,077,431 | $1,098,431 |
| 7000-9401 | State Aid to Regional Libraries | $9,579,475 | $9,888,482 | $9,692,731 | $ (190,751) | $9,692,731* | $9,692,731^ | $9,692,731* |
| 7000-9402 | Talking Book Library (Worcester) | $441,394 | $446,828 | $438,205 | $ (8,623) | $438,205 | $446,828 | $446,828 |
| 7000-9406 | Talking Book & Machine Lending (Perkins) | $2,455,408 | $2,516,693 | $2,468,121 | $ (48,752) | $2,468,121 | $2,516,693 | $2,468,121 |
| 7000-9501 | State Aid to Public Libraries | $6,823,657 | $9,000,000 | $8,847,300 | $ (152,700) | $8,826,300 | $8,847,300 | $9,000,000 |
| 7000-9506 | Library Technology & Resource Sharing | $1,929,238 | $2,729,238 | $2,676,564 | $ (52,674) | $2,676,564 | $2,116,564 | $2,676,564 |
| 7000-9508 | Center for the Book | n/a | $125,000 | $122,587 | $ (2,413) | $122,587 | $200,000 | $0 |
| TOTAL: | $22,241,219 | $25,821,288 | $25,322,939 | $ (498,349) | $25,322,939 | $24,897,547 | $25,382,675 | |
* Library for the Commonwealth funded at 39.4 cents per capita
^ Library for the Commonwealth funded at 40.7 cents per capita
About MBLC
The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.