Governor Ted Strickland...Master of Hypocrisy ?
Ohio Governor Strickland Plans Will
CLOSE PUBLIC LIBRARIES !
B4B NOTE: TIME IS RUNNING OUT ! Ohio legislators to vote on library budget cuts to close Ohio libraries TOMORROW (Saturday).
We must bombard them with phone calls/emails TODAY !
It is absolutely unbelievable that MY Governor would
literally CLOSE many of the public libraries possibly as soon as July 1, 2009 ! This is a travesty. We need your help. Even if you don't live in Ohio please call the Media (see media contact list on our site) to help expose this, as well as Governor Strickland and other legislator's offices
(see numbers below) to say "Vote NO On Public Library Budget Cuts" .
Let them know that this Must be stopped !
From: Ohio Library Council
At a news conference on Friday, June 19, the Governor proposed a cut to state funding for public libraries of $227.3 million in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 as part of his plan to fill the $3.2 billion gap in the budget that must be balanced by the Ohio General Assembly's Conference Committee by June 30.
The proposal amounts to a 30% cut in funding for Ohio's public libraries. This cut is in addition to the 20% reduction in funding that libraries are already facing, because their funding comes from 2.22% of the state's declining General Revenue Fund.
Libraries could close or face significant reductions in operations as a result of the Governor's proposal. With some 70% of the state's 251 public libraries relying solely on state funding to fund their operations, the reduction in funding will mean that many will close branches or drastically reduce hours and services.
The Governor's proposed funding cuts come at a time when Ohio's public libraries are experiencing unprecedented increases in demands for services. In every community throughout the state, Ohioans are turning to their public library for free high speed Internet access and help with employment searches, children and teens are beginning summer reading programs, and people of all ages are turning to the library as a lifeline during these difficult economic times. Ohio's public libraries offer CRITICAL services to those looking for jobs and operating small businesses. Public libraries are an integral part of education, which Governor Strickland says is critical to the state's economic recovery. But it is unlikely that many of Ohio's public library systems, especially those without local levies, can remain open with these proposed cuts.
About 30% of Ohio's public libraries have local property tax levies that supplement the state's funding. However, with the Governor's proposed drastic cuts in the state funding for libraries, even those libraries will face decisions regarding substantial reductions in hours of operation, materials, and staffing.
What can I do to help Save Ohio Libraries?
Contact the below listed legislators TODAY ! They are the ones who will vote yes or no on Saturday June 27, 2009 regarding massive budget cuts for Ohio's Public Libraries. Tell them THEY MUST VOTE NO ON LIBRARY BUDGET CUTS.
Also locate your State Representative or State Senator.
Governor Ted Strickland
614-466-3555
contact online
Post a message on Governor Strickland's Facebook page. (Have to sign-up as a 'supporter' to post message. Then just click 'un-support'.
Senator Bill Harris,
President of the Senate
614-466-8086
SD19@senate.state.oh.us
Senator John Carey,
Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
614-466-8156
SD17@senate.state.oh.us
Representative Armond Budish,
Speaker of the House
614-466-5441
District08@ohr.state.oh.us
Representative Vernon Sykes,
Chairman of the House Finance Committee
614-466-3100
Spread the word!
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