Budget Deal Reached : : Small Adjustment for Libraries Governor Sticks to May Revision Numbers

Budget Deal Reached: Small Adjustment for Libraries

Governor Sticks to May Revision Numbers

CLA News From the Capitol: 6.16.2015 by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This afternoon Governor Jerry Brown, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, and Senate President pro Tem Kevin De Leon held a joint press conference at the State Capitol to announce that they had reopened the negotiations on the 2015-16 Budget and had reached a formal agreement.  Yesterday the State Senate and Assembly both passed this year’s Budget bill by their constitutional deadline of June 15th, but the Budget assumed higher revenue estimates than what the Governor used in his May Revision of the Budget, released in mid-May.

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The library funding was similarly adjusted to reflect the Governor’s May Revision proposal, unfortunately eliminating the $4 million for the California Library Services Act the legislature had included in the Budget, and reducing the broadband connection grants slightly as well.  Here is what we understand will be included for public libraries in this year’s 2015-16 Budget deal agreed to this afternoon:

$6.2 million in NEW funding for public libraries in the 2015-16 Budget bill:

•$2 million in new funding for the state literacy program. 

•$2.5 million in new funding for broadband connection grants for public libraries to join the CENIC high-speed “backbone.”  (an additional $1 million beyond May Revision)

•$225,000 in administration costs to run the broadband program for the public libraries.

•$1 million for the Career Online High School program (Originally not included in May Revision)

•$521,000 for State Library related library preservation activities.

It is believed that the Legislature will vote on the amended Budget bill later this week.  READ MORE !

Send a Quick Email : : Help Save Library Budget Funding

Send a Quick Email : : Help Save Library Budget Funding

CLA News From the Capitol: 6.11.2015

by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

As we reported in our “News From the Capitol” yesterday, the 2015-16 State Budget that is scheduled to be taken up for a vote in the Senate and Assembly on Monday, June 15, contains an important level of new funding for public libraries.  However, there is no guarantee that Governor Brown will support a specific portion of the additional funding when he acts on the Budget bill in the coming days, as the Governor is trying to hold the line on increased spending commitments.

CLA is requesting your help!  Please email a quick note to the Governor’s office in support of maintaining the library funding in the state Budget.

Please take a moment today to help protect the library funding that CLA and a large bi-partisan coalition of legislators worked so hard to incorporate into this year’s Budget.  When the Budget bill heads to the Governor’s desk next week, he will have until June 30 to accept or to “blue pencil” various funding line items.

You may email the Governor’s office to express your support for the library funding in the Budget by using the following steps:

1)    Go to www.gov.ca.gov

2)    Click on the red “Contact” tab at the top of the homepage.

3)    Where it indicates- send an email, fill in the bubble: “Have comment.”

4)    Enter your name and email address.

5)    Using the drag-down options, choose:

                “Budget proposal 2015-16” (near the top of the list of options).

6)    Click the button that says, “pro” regarding your position.

7)    Write either:

        a) the text suggested below or

        b) your own version, in the box provided on the Governor’s webpage and           click “submit.”

Suggested text: 

RE:  FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES – 2015-16 BUDGET BILL:  AB 93

Dear Governor Brown,

Thank you for including much needed funding for public libraries in your May Revision of the State Budget.  The funding you have identified for literacy and broadband connections will be extremely valuable to public libraries throughout the state.  As you prepare to review the Budget bill that is being sent to your desk, I would also like to request your support for the additional funding for the public libraries that was approved as part of the “Conference Committee Compromise.”

The additional $2.5 million for broadband connection grants will expedite high-speed broadband connectivity for a significant amount of library branches and the $4 million for the California Library Services Act will help to reimburse libraries for their willingness to share books and materials among each other – ensuring an equity of access for all California library patrons.

Thank you for your consideration of these matters as you are reviewing the Budget bill in the coming days. 

Sincerely,

Name

(Library, group, etc.) 

Note: 

If you would rather phone the Governor’s office, you may do so at (916) 445-2841 and you may choose the prompt #4 where you will speak to a representative.  That representative will log your comments.

If you would rather fax a letter to the Governor’s office, you may do so at (916) 558-3160.

READ MORE !

Make a Quick Call Today : : Support Library Funding in the State Budget

Make a Quick Call Today in Support

of Library Funding in the State Budget 

CLA News From The Capitol: 5.29.2015

by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

CLA’s Push for the “Senate Version”

Specifically, the Governor proposed adding slightly over $4 million for literacy and broadband connectivity in his May Revision of the Budget.  However, the Senate has adopted a dollar amount that is $7.5 million more than what the Governor proposes for library funding in his May Revision of the Budget -- for a total in new money of approximately $11.7 million.  (see the CLA “Budget ask” sheet, which parallels the “Senate Version” of the Budget.)

The Assembly adopted only the Governor’s May Revision of the Budget and no new money above that amount for libraries.

The Key Legislators to Contact and Talking Points

Please take a moment today to phone as many of these members as you can (listed below) and urge their support of the following action using this sample script or similar talking points:

Hi, my name is _______.  I am representing_____ (public library/literacy program, etc.)  I reside in (city) and I am a strong library supporter.  I would like to be on record in support of an item that the (Assemblymember/Senator) will be considering in Budget Conference Committee.

I would like to request that (he or she) give consideration to supporting the Senate Version of the Budget, under the State Library Budget Items.  The Senate Version reflects important funding for public library programs, above the level contained in the Governor’s May Revision.

These dollars will help to fund critical loaning and lending programs for libraries, as well as improve literacy programs, and will help to connect public libraries to a statewide high speed, broadband backbone.

Twenty eight legislators have signed a joint letter in support of the Senate version and it is my hope that your boss might also support the Senate version.  

Thank you.

Members of the Budget Conference Committee

Senator Mark Leno, Chair

(916) 651-4011

Assemblywoman Shirley Weber

(916) 319-2079

Senator Jim Nielsen (* signed the joint letter)

(916) 651-4004

Senator Ricardo Lara

(916) 651-4033

Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez

(916) 319-2067

Assemblyman Richard Bloom

(916) 319-2050

Governor Releases “May Revision” of Budget : : $2M for Literacy | $1.7M for Broadband

Governor Releases “May Revision” of Budget:

Funding Provided for Broadband Project & Literacy Program

CLA News From the Capitol: 5.14.2015 by Mike Dillon, Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This morning in a press conference at the State Capitol, Governor Brown released his “May Revision” of the 2015-16 State Budget.  Included among the Governor’s proposals for new spending is a recommended increase of $2 million for the state literacy program and an increase of $1.7 million for the library broadband project for connection grants and related costs.

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Recognizing the Governor’s fiscal prudence and the limited available General Funds, CLA is pleased that the Governor has provided additional funding for two important public library programs.  Below is the proposal for new library spending under the Governor’s May Revision of the Budget:

· Literacy Program – An increase of $2 million General Fund for the Literacy and English Acquisition Services Program.  As described in the Governor’s Budget proposal for adult education, the Administration’s focus remains on increasing the resources available to improve the skills of California’s workforce, and it is expected that literacy programs funded with these resources will be coordinated with the adult education consortia.

· Broadband Project – An increase of $1.7 million General Fund for the California Public Library Broadband Project, including $1.5 million on a one-time basis for grants to public libraries to upgrade broadband equipment and $225,000 General Fund for continued administration of contracts for broadband services.

· Library Preservation Activities – An increase of $521,000 General Fund to improve the [State] library’s efforts to preserve historical items in its possession, including $181,000 ongoing for two additional positions and $340,000 on a one-time basis for equipment.”

The Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance will convene early next week to begin reviewing the Governor’s May Revision of the State Budget, and specifically, the State Library and public library funding.  The subcommittees will be working diligently during the next couple of weeks to close out their actions for the year and make recommendations to the full Budget Committee of their respective houses.  READ MORE !

Legislators Issue Letter in Support of Increasing State Library Funding via CLA

“Adult Literacy”
by Alyssa Winans
everylibrary

Legislators Issue Letter in Support of Increasing State Library Funding

CLA News From the Capitol: 5.07.2015 by Mike Dillon, Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

A bi-partisan group of Assembly members and Senators in the California State Legislature have sent a letter to the two Budget Subcommittee Chairs and key Budget leaders, to encourage them to adopt an increase in funding for public libraries in the 2015-16 Budget.  The letter features an impressive list of legislator library supporters and is attached for your information.

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This year’s Budget, proposed by Governor Brown in January, did not carry forward the $3 million mentioned above or the $1 million for “connection grants”, as we have previously reported.  CLA has launched an effort again, in conjunction with Assemblyman Gatto and his colleagues, to encourage the legislature to include $11.5 million in the Budget for public library funding for “connection grants” to the CENIC backbone, funding for the CLSA, and funding for the state literacy program.

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The Governor is expected to release his “May Revision” of the Budget on May 14th and it will reflect the most current revenue projections, based on tax receipts from January through April 30 and other key factors.  After reviewing this new information, the budget subcommittees will then begin closing out their work prior to the Memorial Day weekend and will forward their recommendations to the full Budget Committees.  If CLA is not able to get the budget subcommittees to recommend that new funding be added to the State Budget for public libraries, it will be very difficult to get money into the Budget in the weeks that follow.  READ MORE !

GOVERNOR BROWN INTRODUCES 2015-16 BUDGET :: SLASHES $4 MILLION FROM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS

Governor Cuts Library Programs In Budget 

News From the Capitol: 1.09.2015 by Mike Dillon, CLA Lobbyist; Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist

GOVERNOR BROWN INTRODUCES 2015-16 BUDGET:

SLASHES $4 MILLION FROM PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS

This morning Governor Brown introduced his 2015-16 State Budget before an assembly of the press corps in the State Capitol in Sacramento.  The Governor’s Budget summary document, released in conjunction with the Budget indicates that “the state budget, after a decade of fiscal turbulence, is finally balanced – more precariously than I would like – but balanced.”  While the Governor’s Budget gives most of any new revenue, gained due to an slowly recovering economy, to K-12 schools, he also proposes new spending in areas of public safety, health and human services, and climate change.  –

However, most disappointing, the Governor slashes $4 million from the State Library Budget – money which was included last year in the Budget to bolster the California Library Services Act, the State Literacy program, and so-called “hardship” grants for those libraries needing to connect to the new high-speed Internet backbone operated by the Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC).

While this news is understandably disappointing, California library supporters have a history of rising to the occasion, and there is no doubt they will do so again with a valiant fight this Spring on these issues.  In fact, you will be hearing from the CLA Legislative Committee in the coming days as they launch this year’s major advocacy event, “Day In the District.”  Your participation will be critical as CLA begins a concerted effort to restore these funds.

CLA members will recall that last year, Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) fought to include funding in the 2014-15 Budget to help restore money to the California Library Services Act and the state literacy program.  The Assemblyman had met with the library directors, staff and supporters in Burbank in his district, and learned of the impacts the devastating Budget cuts had had on the Transaction Based Reimbursement program and other vital programs.  In working with CLA, Assemblyman Gatto vowed to make partial restoration of public library funds one of his priorities last year.  Along with Assembly Budget Chair, Nancy Skinner and Assembly Budget Subcommittee Chair, Al Muratsuchi, the three of them championed the issue, resulting in $3 million in new funding being included in the Budget ultimately sent to the Governor.  We hope that Mr. Gatto and many of our library supporters in the legislature will again lead the effort to restore this funding as the Budget Committees begin their deliberations on the Governor’s Budget this Spring.

Specifically, the Governor’s Budget does the following:

•California Library Services Act:  Makes a $2 million reduction in this line-item. This leaves $1.88 million in the fund. 

•California Library Literacy Services:  Makes a $1 million reduction in this line-item. This leaves $2.8 million in the fund.

•CENIC “Hardship Grants:” Zeroes out the $1 million in “hardship grant” funding but leaves $2.25 million in place to fund the Governor’s broadband plan for libraries (e.g. connecting public libraries to the CENIC high-speed “backbone.”)  READ MORE !

Sub 2 Education Finance

Committee Members

Kevin McCarty (Chair)  Dem – 7

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 2160, Sacramento, CA 94249-0007; (916) 319-2007

Rocky J. Chávez  Rep - 76

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 2170, Sacramento, CA 94249-0076; (916) 319-2076

Young O. Kim  Rep - 65       

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 4177, Sacramento, CA 94249-0065; (916) 319-2065

Patrick O'Donnell  Dem – 70

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 4166, Sacramento, CA 94249-0070; (916) 319-2070

Philip Y. Ting  Dem – 19

Capitol Office

P.O. Box 942849, Room 3123, Sacramento, CA 94249-0019; (916) 319-2019

Senate Standing Committee on Education

Members:

Senator Carol Liu (Chair) (D)

Senator Bob Huff (Vice Chair) (R)

Senator Marty Block (D)

Senator Loni Hancock (D)

Senator Connie M. Leyva (D)

Senator Tony Mendoza (D)

Senator Richard Pan (D)

Senator Andy Vidak (R)

New Library Funding Reduced From $5 million to $3 million

Budget Conferees Trim Budget As Part Of Deal With Governor - New Library Funding Reduced From $5 million to $3 million   

CLA News From the Capitol: 6.12.2014 by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro [ Full Text ]

Last night the Legislature’s eight-member Budget Conference Committee convened to make a series of adjustments to many previously closed Budget items and to take votes on several outstanding issues. One such item revisited was the new funding, recently approved, for the California Library Services Act and the state literacy program.

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When the issue was reopened last night, the conferees noted that they were disappointed that they were going to have to make a small reduction to the previous augmentation, and reduced the CLSA by $2 million.

~ $2 million more for CLSA (current baseline is $1.8 million)

~ $1 million more for literacy (current baseline is $2.8 million)

~ $3.25 for the Governor’s proposal to link all public libraries to a high-speed, broadband network.

It was a compromise between the Senate, the Assembly, and the Governor’s office.

The CLA believes that these final numbers will be sent to the Governor for his signature on June 15.  READ Full Text

ACTION ALERT: Letters to the Governor Needed to Protect $5 Million Library Funding

Action Alert

Letters to the Governor

Needed to Protect $5 Million Library Funding in Budget

CLA News From the Capitol:

6.06.2014 by Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro  [ Full Text ]

The legislature has until Sunday, June 15th, the constitutional deadline, to send the Governor the Budget bill.

The Governor has until July 1 to sign the 2014-15 Budget into law.

He also has the authority to “blue pencil” (reduce or eliminate) certain provisions of the Budget.

Please take a minute today to write a letter to Governor Brown, encouraging him to support and leave intact the $5 million for Budget items:

6120-211-0001 - $4 million for the California Library Services Act

6120-213-0001 - $1 million for the California Library Literacy program

In your letters please stress how your libraries are busier than ever, but the devastating cuts of the past hinder your ability to provide certain services.  With the economy making a modest recovery, now is the time to invest in communities by returning critical financial state resources to the public libraries.

Address your letters to:

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

Governor, State of California

State Capitol, First Floor

Sacramento, CA.  95814

You may also fax your letters to the Governor’s office:  (916) 558-3160

Thank you for your help.  READ Full Text