TLA TEXLINE NO. 178
Posted: January 24, 2005
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES NETWORK
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Library Funding Hearing Set
The 79th Texas Legislature has now convened. Although neither the House nor the Senate has yet made committee appointments for this session, the Senate Finance Committee has tentatively set budget hearings to begin this week. Senate committee appointments are likely to be made later today. For the roster of committee members, go to http://www.senate.state.tx.us/ and click on the link for committees.
The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is tentatively scheduled to appear before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, January 26, beginning at 8:00 am. This hearing may be the only public hearing in the Senate to consider the agency’s legislative appropriations request. The initial draft of the State’s budget has been filed as HB 1. The Legislative Budget Board has recommended that funding for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission be limited to only the base budget request. Since all state agencies were required to submit initial base budget requests at 95% of current levels, the initial state budget proposes to fund programs at the State Library with a 5% decrease in fiscal years 2006 and 2007. The Legislative Budget Board did not recommend funding any of the exceptional budget items requested.
ACTION NEEDED:
Contact your state senator immediately and ask for support of funding for TexShare, the Loan Star Libraries program, reinstatement of full funding for the Texas Library Systems program, and the agency’s overall budget and exceptional items requests.
To find out how to contact your senator, go to:
WHAT WE WANT:
1 Increase funding for TexShare. The current level of TexShare funding is about $4 million per year from state and federal sources. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is requesting $12 million for 2006 and $13 million for 2007. We need the strongest level of funding possible. The Legislative Budget Board’s initial recommendation for funding is only about $4 million a year from state and federal sources! In 2003, TexShare databases were funded at over $10 million.
Tell your senator why the people who use your library need the TexShare program. Be very specific and be sure to relate any stories about the local impact of the cuts in the TexShare program over the last two years.
TALKING POINTS: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/TexShare.pdf.
2 Increase in funding for Loan Star Libraries. The current level is $2.7 million per year. However, the Legislative Budget Board has recommended only $2.65 million dollars for each year of the next biennium. The Texas State Library is requesting $7.65 million for 2006 and $8.65 million for 2007.
Tell your senator how the people who use your local library have benefited from Loan Star Libraries funding. Be sure to describe the continuing need for additional funding.
TALKING POINTS: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/Loan%20Star.pdf.
3 Strong funding for the Texas Library Systems. The current level of funding for the Texas Library Systems is $7.5 million per year, down from $8 million in 2003. Given budget reductions, the Legislative Budget Board’s initial recommendation for funding is only $7.2 million per year. Funding for the Systems must be restored.
Tell your senator the impact on your library due to a decrease in funding of the Texas Library Systems. Describe the ongoing need for funding.
TALKING POINTS: http://www.txla.org/html/legis/System%20Talking%20Points.pdf
For additional information on the agency’s budget, go to http://www.txla.org/html/legis/TSLAC%20Budget.pdf.
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.