Thank you for your support in calling and emailing Representatives in the Ohio House about restoring the Governor’s proposed budget.
On April 8, the House Finance Committee amended the budget to allocate $490 million in library funds for fiscal year 2026 and
$500 million for fiscal year 2027.
The distribution of these funds will return to the existing law, rather than the proposed per capita model.
Additionally, instead of a percentage of the General Revenue Fund, the Ohio House members moved library funding to a
separate line-item appropriation making it vulnerable in future state budgets.
While we appreciate the House's efforts to adjust the funding proposal, it’s important to note that the current version of the bill
still falls $90.8 million short of the Governor’s recommended funding for public libraries over the biennium.
What’s next:
- The House will advance their budget to the Senate.We will keep you up to date on what happens to library funding in the House.
- The final bill will go to the Governor for signing by June 30.
- We may ask for your support at any step of this budget process!
Why it's important:
- The Public Library Fund has remained flat for 25 years and House Members have put forward a dollar amount that does not
account for a quarter of a century of inflation. - In Jefferson County, the Public Library Fund covers 2/3 of the library’s funding. The remaining 1/3 is from local property taxes
passed by voters like you.