The Massachusetts Library Association Legislative Committee reported to the Library Community on the Massachusetts House of Representatives’ vote on the budget amendments proposed by members. While not all of the amendments passed, the House increased their budget proposal for libraries by over $1 million. Below you will find a summary of the line items. Each includes, the current year's budget, the Governor's proposed budget, the House's original proposed budget, and the new revised House proposal. The next step is for the Senate to address the budget.
This budget would add $127,806 to NMRLS budget in FY2008. However, line 7000-9506 (Library Resource Sharing & Technology) is level funded which could reduce support for statewide electronic databases.
7000-9101
Board of Library Commissioners
FY2007 - $1,000,732
FY2008 (Governor's FY08) - $1,010,739
House Ways and Means/original----$1,028,000
House Ways and Means/revised FY08----$1,028,000--No Change
7000-9401
State Aid to Regional Libraries
FY2007 - $15,730,361
FY2008 (Governor's FY08) - $15,730,361
House Ways and Means FY08/original--$16,301,780
House Ways and Means FY08 budget provides an increase in the per capita amount for the Library of Last Recourse (Boston Public Library) from $1.06 per capita to $1.15 per capita
House Ways & Means/revised -- $17,001,780--
$700,000 increase
7000-9402
Talking Book Library (Worcester)
FY2007 - $390,000
FY2008 (Governor's FY08)- $372,020
House Ways and Means FY08/original---$390,000
House Ways and Means FY08/revised---$415,000--$25,000 increase
7000-9406
Talking Book & Machine Lending (Perkins)
FY2007 - $2,182,175
FY2008 (Governor's FY08 ) - $2,081,565
House Ways and Means FY08 original---$2,203,997
House Ways and Means FY08 revised---$2,203,997--No Change
7000-9501
State Aid to Public Libraries
FY2007 - $9,289,844**
FY2008 (Governor's FY08) - $9,382,742***
FY 2008 House Ways and Means/original---$9,382,742****
** FY2007 State Aid to Public Libraries line 7000-9501 provides authorization of the MBLC to award 55 additional waivers in excess of the statutory 10 waivers of the M.A.R. (Municipal Appropriation Requirement) for FY2007.
***Governor's FY08 budget authorizes the MBLC to award 25 additional waivers in excess of the statutory 10 waivers of the M.A.R.
****House Ways and Means FY08 budget provides authorization of the MBLC to award 55 additional waivers in excess of the statutory 10 waivers of the Municipal Appropriation Requirement.
FY 2008 House Ways and Means/revised---$9,632,742--$250,000 increase
7000-9506
Library Technology & Resource Sharing
FY2007 - $ 2,833,000
FY2008 (Governor's FY08)- $ 2,833,000
FY2008 House Ways and Means/original---$2,851,000
FY2008 House Ways and Means/revised---$2,851,000--No Change
7000-9507
Public Library Incentive Grant Program (Public Libraries Fund)
FY2007 - $ 250,000
FY2008 (Governor's FY08) - $ 0
Governor's FY08 budget recommends elimination of this program for FY08
FY2008 House Ways and Means/original----$0
House Ways and Means Budget for FY08 recommends elimination of this program for FY08
FY2008 House Ways and Means/revised----$200.000--$200,000 increase & reinstates program
