State budget – still not done, please call your state senators and representatives!
State budget – still not done, please call your state senators and representatives!
Who are your PA senators and representatives? Use https://www.palegis.us/find-my-legislator for your home and your library address.
What to say?
- Please help get the state budget done! It is past the June 30 deadline.
- Public libraries use the public library subsidy (a line item in the state budget) for important services to our community.
- A payment to the 29 library districts is scheduled for August, but can’t happen until the state budget is completed. Most libraries and districts are non-profits and don’t have large reserves to cover late payments. Libraries don’t have a way to recover expenses for taking loans – so instead, they are more likely to cancel services if they don’t have the money on time.
- Share a local example of how important district services are to your library and community. (cost-efficient purchasing of services, expensive databases with yearly subscription discounts)
How to say things:
This is YOUR elected official. You are sharing information and asking them to assist your library. For the library’s financial needs, this is not a political issue but a critical process that needs completed. So, be professional and respectful and focus on a positive working relationship with both the staff and the elected official.
Phone calls to staff or elected officials are the best action, but if you need to email or use a web contact form, that is ok too.
Background for you:
- Earlier this year we were asking for an increase in the public library subsidy. Unfortunately, due to the other non-library factors influencing the state budget, it is not likely that an increase will happen.
- Two years ago, the state budget was not only late, but the distribution language legislation that included libraries and community colleges was even later in December! We are trying to prevent this from happening again.
- The PA Senate is currently not scheduled to be back in session until September 8. The PA House of Representatives is scheduled to be back on September 22, but as a non-voting day.
What you might hear:
The PA House of Representatives did pass HB 1330 for the budget, and we are waiting for the PA Senate to take action.
You can respond by indicating that you recognize that both bodies and the Governor need to agree to the budget. You would like your legislator to emphasize to their leadership that the state budget getting done is important to our public libraries!
If you get a response, please share any information that is more than just “we noted your request”.
Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
All of us need to work together on this advocacy!
Christi
Christi Buker, CAE
Executive Director
717.766.7663
christi@palibraries.org
www.palibraries.org
