Senate Budget Complete
May 27, 2015
Celeste Bruno
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x208
celeste.bruno@state.ma.us
The Massachusetts State Senate has adopted its version of the FY 2016 state spending bill and has sent its budget on to conference committee. The Senate version of the bill increased funding by $675,879 compared to the final House version of the bill, and brought funding back up over the post 9c cut level.
For the library community, State Aid to Public Libraries (9501) and Technology and Resource Sharing (9506) are priorities in the FY 2016 Legislative Agenda. The Senate level funded the Technology and Resource Sharing (9506) account line of the MBLC’s budget at the FY 2015 9c cut level of $2,676,564. The MBLC used modest FY 2015 gains to this budget line to directly benefit small libraries, assisting more than 50 libraries with their membership in automated library networks. State Aid to Public Libraries (9501) was increased back to the FY 2015 amount of $9,000,000.
The House and Senate versions of the budget will be reconciled in a conference committee, and a final version of the FY2016 budget will be passed before July 1st.
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.