1. More Cuts to TexShare
2. No Funding for TLC

In a late meeting, conference budget committee leaders agreed to further reduce funding for the TexShare databases. The committee leadership adopted Senate recommendations which would cut certain funding sources in the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's capital budget by 50%. The recommendations from which the committee was working already reflected a 30% reduction from the current level of TexShare database funding.

This new cut would basically reduce the $12.1 million biennial appropriation recommended from dedicated TIF funds for TexShare databases. The cut would mean that TexShare would get only $6.05 million over the biennium from dedicated TIF funds. That action would leave approximately $3 million in dedicated TIF funding for TexShare every year. Should this scenario be the final outcome of the budget process, TexShare would be funded at approximately $4.5 million a year (this amounts includes the reduced TIF dedicated funds of $3 million plus $1 million in federal sources and approximately $500,000 in anticipated fees).

Library supporters are urged to contact their legislators if they serve on the conference committee and ask them to maintain the full recommended funding for TexShare databases, which are listed in the capital budget as item b (2) "Provide Public Access to Information Resources (Content Databases and E-books)." We are asking that conference committee members appropriate the full $12.1 million in GR Dedicated (Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund No. 345) for content databases through TexShare. Libraries cannot afford for this funding source to be cut in half! Conference committee members are listed below.

Urgent Call to Action: 

Library supporters are urged to contact their legislators if they serve on the conference committee as ask them to fund the Texas Library Connection (TLC) at $4 million a year in the Texas Education Agency budget. TLC was included in the Texas Education Agency's original budget in the rider for the Long Range Plan for Technology but was not funded! Ask your legislator to reinstate funding for TLC. Make your case as to why TLC is crucial for school libraries.

The members of the conference committee are:

• Representative Talmadge Heflin, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0568; Capitol Fax: 512/463-8095 talmadge.heflin@house.state.tx.us
• Representative Vilma Luna, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0484; Capitol Fax: 512/463-8090 vilma.luna@house.state.tx.us
• Representative Jim Pitts, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0516; Capitol Fax: 512/463-1051 jim.pitts@house.state.tx.us
• Representative Sylvester Turner, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0554; Capitol Fax: 512/463-8380 sylvester.turner@house.state.tx.us
• Representative Arlene Wohlgemuth, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0538; Capitol Fax: 512/463-6551 arlene.wohlgemuth@house.state.tx.us
• Senator Teel Bivins, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0131; Capitol Fax: 512/475-3733 sharon.miner@senate.state.tx.us
• Senator Judith Zaffirini, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0121; Capitol Fax: 512/475-3738; judith.zaffirini@senate.state.tx.us
• Senator Robert Duncan, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0128; Capitol Fax: 512/463-2424; robert.duncan@senate.state.tx.us
• Senator Steve Odgen, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0105; Capitol Fax: 512/463-5713; tiffiny.britton@senate.state.tx.us
• Senator John Whitmire, Capitol Phone: 512/463-0115; Capitol Fax: 512/475-3737; john.whitmire@senate.state.tx.us

The conference committee expects to complete its work by Monday. Library supporters should contact their legislators immediately. For additional information and talking points, go to http://www.txla.org/pubs/texline/index.html and see Texline 144, 146, 148, 152, 154, and 156.