Update
Legislature passes an on time state Budget for the first time in 21 years that also includes restoration of  $4.5 million in Library Aid cut by the Governor last year.  The state Budget also includes language that streamlines library reporting requirements, updates terminology in statute and permits school library systems to receive funding for any public or non-public schools, participating or not, within their service area.

Both houses of the Legislature proposed increases in Library Aid. The Senate proposed $2 million extra for public library construction and the Assembly proposed $2.6 million extra for operational aid that would use the 2000 Census with hold-harmless provision to calculate library aid.  In the end, Legislative negotiators could not agree on how much to add or where the funds would come from, so unfortunately library services received no increase.

April 12^th is the last day that Governor has the opportunity to act upon, either veto or approve, the Legislature’s proposed Budget.

Archived news-
Executive Budget proposes flat funding for Library aid at $84.44 million, keeping in place the $4.5 million or 5% cut from last year.  In addition, Library Materials Aid stays at approximately $19 million for school libraries and the Governor has once again proposed moving Cultural Education, including the State Library, to a new entity called the New York Institute for Cultural Education (NYICE).

NYLA will be working with members of the state Legislature, library advocates and building coalitions with other vested parties like library vendors, labor unions, AARP and PTA to reverse last year’s cut and obtain additional funding for library services.

For more information, go to the NYS Division of Budget website at 

http://www.budget.state.ny.us/

Library Aid information can be found under 2005-6 Executive Budget Documents at By Section and Functional Area on page 20 or on page 70 of the Appropriations Bill, both listings are under Education, Labor and Family Assistance.

- Michael Borges, NYLA Executive Director, director@nyla.org