TLA TEXLINE NO. 145
Posted: March 2, 2003
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
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Update on the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Board (TIFB)
In this issue:
The TIFB appeared before the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee on February 11 to present its proposed budget reduction for 2003. In total, the agency proposed an 8% reduction in operating funds. The agency then appeared before the House Appropriations Education Subcommittee on February 13 and will appear before the Senate Finance Committee on March 3 to discuss the 2004-2005 agency budget.
While budget hearings deal primarily with operating expenses, given the uncertainty over TIF's future and the so-called freeze on TIF grants, the agency's budget discussions for fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005 are tenuous at best. The agency's budget (and its future) will depend on several actions: 1) some decision regarding 2003 TIF grant money (i.e., either the Board will vote to release the funds or the legislature, based on its own initiative or following that of the Governor, will redirect TIF funding to other budget areas); 2) legislative recommendations on the agency's 2004-2005 budget in the biennial appropriations bill; and 3) action (or inaction) on legislative measures to continue TIF beyond 2005. (No hearings have yet been set for HB 46 or SB 124, bills to extend TIF.)
II. Governor's State of the State Address
There are many possibilities related to all these potential actions, including the release of some or all 2003 TIF grant money or the rededication of all TIF funds. The Governor, in his state of the state address on February 11, called for all TIF money to be rededicated to the technology allotment for schools with a marginal increase of $5 per child. Such an action would, in essence, cut libraries, institutions of higher education, and non-profit healthcare facilities from TIF grants. Additionally, schools would also realize a decrease in TIF funding, since the proposal increases technology funding by only $20 million a year. Through TIF grants, schools were eligible for as much as $100 million in funding per year. Presumably, the TIF dollars unused for the technology allotment would go to other areas of the budget.
While this plan represents only one potential scenario, it is clear that the state's elected officials are looking at all possible options to resolve the massive state budget shortfall. Ultimately, it will be state legislators who determine the fate of TIF money (i.e., whether the original intent of TIF's enabling legislation will be honored or if TIF money will be used in whole or in part to offset budget gaps).
CALL TO ACTION:
For this reason, it is imperative that library supporters continue to write their legislators about the importance of TIF funding for libraries and the need to continue TIF beyond 2005. For talking points, go to: <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/issues_TIF.html> and <http://www.txla.org/html/legis/issues_TIFrelease.html>.
Contacting Your Legislators
For the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker:
In other news, the TIF Board met on Friday, February 28. This meeting was the first of this year and, while the Board took no action, Board members discussed the impact of the Governor's office request to freeze 2003 funds. Some Board members wanted a plan of action ready so that, if the legislature failed to act on TIF funds, the Board could release grants as soon as possible. The Board determined to request specific guidance and information from the Governor, the Lt. Governor, and the House Speaker regarding 2003 TIF funds.
TLA-Texline is an irregular publication of the Texas Library Association mailed directly to members interested in legislative and governmental issues affecting libraries. To subscribe--or to offer comments or suggestions-- contact Gloria Meraz, Director of Communications, Texas Library Association. Previous issues of Texline are archived on the TLA website.