Rochester, N.Y.-- Last night, the NYS Legislature approved a $3 million restoration in Library Aid as well as language that would make permanent the supplemental system aid and the ability of the commissioner to grant waivers from local maintenance of effort requirements. This will allow for Central Library systems to be more flexible in scheduling hours of operation.
In addition, the Governor’s proposal to merge School Library Materials Aid with Textbook/Software Aid was rejected.
According to NYLA Executive Director Michael Borges, given a $10 billion proposed deficit, these accomplishments are something to cheer about. The Senate had proposed a $4.2 million restoration of the $8.45 million cut recommended by the Governor, but the Assembly would only support a $3 million restoration. Total Library Aid would now be $79 million, down from $84.45 million last year.
The Legislature also restored approximately $230 million in school aid (of proposed $1.5 billion cut) and maintained flat funding of $4.3 million for Adult Literacy Education (ALE).
Locally, we are still not out of the woods. There will be definite reductions in library services, but it is still too premature to speculate on those matters to date.
CSEA Monroe County Local 828 would like to thank everyone in our community who advocated for libraries this budget cycle. Stay tuned for updates on further developments on how the County and City budgets will affect library services in your neighborhood.
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| RUNDEL MEMORIAL LIBRARY BUILDING CENTRAL LIBRARY OF ROCHESTER AND MONROE COUNTY State Aid for libraries will be reduced from 84.4 to 79 million for 2011-12. photo: Ove Overmyer |
In addition, the Governor’s proposal to merge School Library Materials Aid with Textbook/Software Aid was rejected.
According to NYLA Executive Director Michael Borges, given a $10 billion proposed deficit, these accomplishments are something to cheer about. The Senate had proposed a $4.2 million restoration of the $8.45 million cut recommended by the Governor, but the Assembly would only support a $3 million restoration. Total Library Aid would now be $79 million, down from $84.45 million last year.
The Legislature also restored approximately $230 million in school aid (of proposed $1.5 billion cut) and maintained flat funding of $4.3 million for Adult Literacy Education (ALE).
Locally, we are still not out of the woods. There will be definite reductions in library services, but it is still too premature to speculate on those matters to date.
CSEA Monroe County Local 828 would like to thank everyone in our community who advocated for libraries this budget cycle. Stay tuned for updates on further developments on how the County and City budgets will affect library services in your neighborhood.
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