Protect the Public Library Fund
Update on Recent Budget Actions
[ 06|09|2025 ]
Dear Friends,
In April, Wright Library asked for your help contacting your state representatives in response to Substitute House Bill 96 - the House of Representatives budget proposal to reduce the Public Library Fund.
Although your outpouring of support had some positive impact, the House passed a budget bill that still included reduced funding for libraries, along with additional - and concerning - library operations restrictions.
Now that budget bill is in the Senate.
Here’s an update on where it stands, how we are responding, and what happens next.
WHERE IT STANDS
Recent Budget Actions at the Statehouse
Last week, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee introduced their budget proposal, which not only retained the House’s budget proposal for the Public Library Fund, but further reduced funding for public libraries by more than $10 million.
Next, it will go to the Senate floor for a full vote on June 12.
If passed by both chambers and signed by Governor DeWine on June 30, public libraries in Ohio will see negative and wide-ranging implications.
More than 50% of Wright Library’s funding comes from the State.
Details on the Public Library Fund
Both the House and Senate Finance Committee have proposed the following for the state budget that would be in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027:
- The Public Library Fund would no longer receive 1.7% of Ohio's General Revenue Fund (GRF), and instead would be a fiscal year appropriation. Appropriations are lump sums of money and are much more vulnerable to unexpected reductions.
- Each fiscal year, the appropriation amount would have $10.2 million immediately removed from the top to fund the State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library, Ohio Public Library Information Network, the Library for the Blind, and Regional Library Systems. Remaining funds would then be distributed between Ohio’s 251 public libraries. In essence, the budget is smaller and being divided among more entities. These other agencies should be directly funded from the GRF.
In fiscal year 2024, public libraries in Ohio received $489 million and are projected to receive $530 million in the 2025 fiscal year. The Senate’s budget proposal of $490 million in FY 2026 and $500M in 2027, less the additional $10.2 million reductions, will force Ohio public libraries to make very difficult funding decisions moving forward.
Additional Constraints Against Libraries
Additionally, the Senate has reconfirmed the House's proposal:
- To segregate materials related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
- To reduce the library Board of Trustees' term limits from seven to four years.
- To allow each County Budget Commission the ability to reduce the millage on any voter-approved tax levy (except debt levies) at their discretion if they believe each library has enough money to operate.
More Information
The Legislative Service Commission provides a comparison between the House and Senate bills (mention of the Public Library Fund is on page 709, with other Public Library Fund services reductions on pages 537 and 538).
NEXT STEPS: How We Are Responding
Wright Library is working in partnership with other Ohio library systems and the Ohio Library Council to advocate for the reinstatement of Governor DeWine’s original Public Library Fund proposal ($531.7 million in fiscal year 2026 and $549.1 million in fiscal year 2027) and the elimination of the additional constraints on public library operations.
Even if this budget is passed by the Ohio Senate on June 12, there will still be time to advocate via the budget conference committee before the budget gets to the Governor’s desk. We hope direct conversations between legislators and library leaders yield positive results, however, we wanted to keep you - the taxpayer - apprised of this legislative activity that will affect our future ability to provide the materials, programs, technologies, building access, and staff support that you depend on.
IN SUMMARY: What Happens Next
Library leaders across the state are urging the Ohio Senate to restore the Public Library Fund to Executive Budget levels to ensure key services can be delivered at the local level to Ohio’s 7.4 million library cardholders. We will keep you apprised of the Senate’s efforts and our responses, and we will continue to update you as the budget evolves.
In appreciation for your ongoing support,
Kristi Hale Director, Wright Library Public Library
Thank You!
and Funding Update
[ 04|09|2025 ]
Dear Friends,
I want to thank each of you who contacted your state representative on behalf of funding for Ohio’s public libraries and provide an update on Substitute House Bill 96.
On Wednesday, the Ohio House submitted their final budget proposal, Substitute House Bill (HB) 96. While it falls short of Governor DeWine’s funding proposal for libraries, some important concessions were made to hold funding near 2024 levels. The bill as submitted would mean libraries will receive less funding in 2026 and 2027 than they did in 2023, but the loss is less than previously proposed last week. This is a direct impact of your advocacy.
For more information, please read the Ohio Library Council's press release about Substitute House Bill (HB) 96.
At this time, HB 96 goes to the Ohio Senate, where they will spend the next couple of months hashing out their own version of a budget proposal.
I will continue to keep you updated about next steps in the budget process. Your efforts made a big difference. Legislators around the state reported being swarmed with calls and emails, and the impact of those calls was palpable in Columbus on Tuesday when we visited with both Rep. Andrea White and state Sen. Willis Blackshear to advocate for our funding. Rep. White, who serves most of Oakwood, was a strong advocate on behalf of Ohio’s public library funding.
Thank you again for being a champion of Wright Library.
Sincerely, Kristi Hale Wright Library Director
[ 04|02|2025 ]
Tell the Ohio House: Don’t Cut Funding to Ohio Libraries!
To our valued patrons and supporters:
This message is a departure from our usual communications to you.
Ohio’s libraries, including Wright Library, are facing an unprecedented cut to state library funding, and we need your help.
The situation: $100 million in Ohio public library funding is at risk.
On April 1, the Ohio House of Representatives departed from Gov. DeWine’s priorities and proposed a two-year budget that would fundamentally change how public libraries are funded in Ohio. The House budget proposal would reduce state funding for Ohio’s public libraries by more than $100 million over two years compared to Gov. DeWine’s proposal.
What can you do?
We need ALL library patrons and supporters to act now. Here's how.
House representatives will be making final budget recommendations in the next few days, so please email or call House Speaker Matt Huffman and your state representative TODAY (or no later than Wednesday, April 9):
- Ask them not to cut Ohio's public library funding.
- Share your personal story about why the library matters to you.
- Urge them to restore the Public Library Fund to Gov. DeWine's budget proposal of 1.75%.
State Representative Contact Information
House Speaker Matt Huffman: rep78@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 466-6344
Oakwood’s State Representative Andrea White: rep36@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 644-6008
For those residing outside of Oakwood, find your Representative using this District Map.
How does this impact you?
Ohio’s public libraries are strong because of funding provided by the Public Library Fund, a fund established by Ohio decades ago to ensure Ohio’s public libraries remain a governmental priority. The Public Library Fund makes up more than half of Ohio’s public library funding, including Wright Library’s funding, and is currently calculated as 1.7% of the state’s General Revenue Fund.
Wright Library uses the Public Library Fund for operations and building updates, as well as for books, resources, technology, programs, and services you rely on, including:
- Access to digital books, audiobooks, movies, magazines, newspapers, and databases
- One-on-one technology tutoring
- Job seeking support
- Afterschool programs for kids, tweens, and teens
- Early literacy programs that get young children ready for kindergarten
- Outreach programs to Oakwood’s senior living community and local preschools.
- Home delivery for those that cannot get to the library on their own
- Programs for seniors
- Free and reservable community meeting spaces
If passed, the House’s budget would force a reduction in Wright Library services that you and other community members rely on.
Additional background
Gov. DeWine's budget proposal reflects his belief in the importance and value of Ohio's public libraries, slightly increasing the Public Library Fund to 1.75 percent of the General Revenue Fund (currently set at 1.7 percent).
Unfortunately, the Ohio House of Representatives have departed from the Governor’s priorities and proposed a two-year budget that eliminates the Public Library Fund and replaces it with a line-item appropriation that represents a $100 million cut to library funding over two years compared to Governor DeWine’s budget.
The unprecedented elimination of the Public Library Fund comes at a time when libraries across the state have already seen a $27 million shortfall in state funding in 2024. In fact, Ohio’s public libraries are currently funded at the same level as in the year 2000, with no adjustment for inflation.
Again, now is the time to act.
Please email or call House Speaker Matt Huffman and your state representative TODAY (or no later than Wednesday April 9).
- Ask them not to cut Ohio's public library funding.
- Share your personal story about why the library matters to you.
- Urge them to restore the Public Library Fund to Gov. DeWine's budget proposal of 1.75%.
State Representative Contact Information
House Speaker Matt Huffman: rep78@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 466-6344
Oakwood’s State Representative Andrea White: rep36@ohiohouse.gov or (614) 644-6008
For those residing outside of Oakwood, find your Representative using this District Map.
Have questions? contact Library Director Kristi Hale at (937) 250-6824 or via this contact form.