The Ohio General Assembly has completed its work on House Bill (HB) 49, the state’s two-year main operating budget bill. On June 30, 2017, Gov. Kasich signed HB 49 just before the start of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. The language temporarily setting the Public Library Fund (PLF) at 1.68% of the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) for FY18-19 became effective immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Thank you to everyone who contacted legislators and shared our message to Protect the PLF.  It would not have been possible to minimize the originally proposed reduction in the PLF without the help of certain key supporters in the Ohio Senate including Senate President Larry Obhof and Senate Majority Floor Leader Randy Gardner.

More details on the state budget and its impact on public libraries is available on the OLC website.