Governor Newsom’s “May Revise” Surprise
Newly amended Budget proposal contains new funding for libraries
This
morning Governor Gavin Newsom
appeared before the press corps at the State Capitol to formally unveil his
revisions to his January 2019-20 State Budget. Known as the “May Revision”
or “May Revise,” this document is typically released on or around May
15th after the Governor and his Department of Finance have had the
opportunity to receive the April tax receipts and make a more accurate
determination about the state’s fiscal health.
Of
interest to CLA members was the inclusion in the Governor’s May Revise of
almost $10 million in additional “one-time” funding (meaning it must be spent in
fiscal year 2019-20 and is not ongoing in nature) for several library
initiatives, including early learning and after school library programs.
This funding, if approved by the legislature, would be in addition to the $1
million for the Lunch at the Library program and the $1 million for Zip Books
that the Governor proposed in his January Budget. In the months leading
up to the May Revise, State Librarian Greg Lucas had been laying the groundwork
for necessary funding for the early childhood and after school programs.
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>“One-Time
Funding to support Early Learning and After-School Library Program Grants
$5
million to support grants for local library jurisdictions with the lowest
per-capita library spending to develop and implement early learning and after-school
library programs.
>“One-Time
Funding to support Mobile Libraries
$3
million to support grants for local library jurisdictions to purchase
bookmobiles and community outreach vehicles that would be used to expand access
to books and library materials in under-resourced neighborhoods.
>“Augmentation
to support Digitization and Cultural Preservation Activities
$1.7
million to coordinate with state entities to identify items for digital
preservation, contract for digital preservation services, and to begin
conducting or commissioning a statewide survey to inventory cultural heritage
assets.
>“Statewide
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Historical Preservation
$500,000
to support the preservation of historical Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
sites.”
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The
State Budget must be passed by the Legislature by June 15, 2019. READ MORE >>
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