End of the Road
Friday July 10, 2009
Just wanted to let everyone know that the word out of Columbus is that library funding looks to be restored at 66% of the total cut. This means about $150 million of the $227 million cut should be restored. I had to wait to post this until it became public to protect the privacy of my sources in the state-house.
What I’m hearing is that the compromise will be 2010 heavy in that it allots more funding to 2010 than 2011 in an attempt to give libraries time to implement the most drastic of cuts, push levy proposals in November, and hope that tax revenues up-tick in 2010 and 2011. The final numbers haven’t been hammered out, but should be announced on Monday.
Personally, I’m disappointed at the result. While libraries had more of their funding restored than most of the other programs recklessly slashed by Strickland’s budget, a drop in state funding of over 30% combined is unacceptable. While many large branches can absorb this loss, small branches cannot. If it costs $8 to keep the library doors open and you have $7 instead of $5, the doors are still closing.
Good job everyone, I’m sorry we couldn’t do better.
Just an extra note: Ted Strickland isn’t going to get off this easily. Mid-Coast Perspective will resume it’s investigation on him and taking him to task on everything we find. From covering up for his voyeuristic former campaign manager and not opposing perihelia to his failure to accurately report campaign contributions and his taking hundreds of thousands from campaign contributions from conglomerated gambling we should have plenty of fodder through November 2010. Anyone interested in helping return the screw to Ted, email me.
— Johnathon · Jul 10, 10:59 PM · #