6/29/09 Legislature Moves on Interim Budget
The Ohio Senate has passed a continuing resolution and approved an interim budget to give themselves another week to work out an impasse over how to fill a $3.2 billion hole in the $54 billion budget. House concurrence is expected. The interim budget would run through July 7, giving legislators another week to balance the two-year spending plan that was to start Wednesday. The measure will fund state programs at 70% of the current level, and authorize Gov. Strickland to tap the state's rainy day fund to balance the 2009 budget that ends Tuesday. The aforementioned 30% reduction will not apply to the Public Library Fund and library funding will remain unchanged in the interim budget.
The budget process is now in the negotiation stage. The OLC is working very closely with the legislature and the Governor's office on the library funding issue. Depending on the progress of the budget negotiations, libraries may need to re-energize their efforts to mobilize patrons.
