Governor Baker Signs Short Term Spending Bill for FY2021
August 07, 2020
Matthew Perry
Outreach Coordinator
1-800-952-7403 x240
matthew.s.perry@state.ma.us
The Massachusetts Legislature passed the first budget of FY2021 which will fund the government until the end of October 2020. The budget includes level funding for all library line items overseen by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC).
“Given the uncertain economic climate, level funding is good news,” said MBLC Chair Mary Ann Cluggish. “Libraries experience an uptick in demand for services during difficult economic times so it is vital that they be funded.”
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature has made the decision to pass several funding bills throughout the year instead of the annual budget that would fund the government from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The first of these budgets was signed by Governor Baker on August 4, 2020.
Budget lines overseen by the MBLC were funded to FY2020 levels. The totals for the line items can be seen below:
|
Line Item |
Final FY2020 budget |
|
MBLC Admin 7000-9101 |
$1,322,130 |
|
State Aid to Regional Libraries 7000-9401 |
$11,516,000 |
|
Worcester Talking Book Library 7000-9402 |
$468,217 |
|
Perkins Library 7000-9406 |
$2,665,800 |
|
State Aid to Public Libraries 7000-9501 |
$9,901,081 |
|
Library Technology and Resource Sharing 7000-9506 |
$4,259,000 |
|
Mass Center for the Book Inc. 7000-9508 |
$200,000 |
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.