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Sen. Fumo to speak tonight on library crisis
By Ed Goppelt
Friday, 05/06/05
(1115390817922)
State Senator Vincent Fumo will meet with South Philly residents tonight about
state funding for the libraries. State Rep. Babette Josephs and City Councilman
Frank DiCicco will also participate in the meeting, part of a series of three
meetings organized by the Friends of the Free Library.
Sen. Fumo will be a key player in deciding how much state aid libraries across the state--including the Free Library--will get. Although City dollars make up the majority of the Library's budget, the State subsidy is important, paying for about 20% of the Library's expenses.
The Santore branch is one of the 10 Philadelphia libraries which were turned into a part-time branch with no on-site librarians before a judge's order halted further service cuts. Originally, City officials had proposed reducing 20 branches--40% of the system--to so called "Express branches."
Friends' Executive Director Dougherty sees the meeting as an opportunity for residents to tell their elected officials "why the library is important to the community." Neighbors will speak first, then the officials and finally a Q&A session will cap off the hour and half long meeting.
City funding for the libraries will be cut 5% for next year. This year's service cuts were the subject of contentious hearings in City Council. Dougherty says she hopes "people will stay professional, positive and nice" and the meeting will not be used "as another way to bash" Free Library Director Elliot Shelkrot.
| This Year (2005) Millions |
Next Year (2006) Millions |
Increase (Decrease) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| City | $37.3 | $35.3 | (5%) |
| State* | 8.7 | 7.4 | (15%) |
| Total | 46.0 | 42.7 | (8%) |
Source: City Budget Documents
Notes:
*State funding for 2005 included a late payment of $1.25 million intended
for 2004.
State funding for the libraries was slashed in 2004 by about 36% as part of Governor Ed Rendell's failed attempt to teach Republican legislators a lesson by proposing a budget so low it would never pass. Instead the legislature passed the Governor's austerity budget in record time.
State funding for libraries has yet to recover from the Governor's blunder. This year Rendell proposed a subsidy of $59 million, about 20% less than the libraries got in 2003.
Most of the hard decisions on the budget are made in a joint House-Senate conference committee. In this regard, Philadelphia is well positioned to lobby for better library funding: Philadelphia legislators on the committee will include:
| Year | Total State
Aid Millions | Philadelphia's Share Millions |
|---|---|---|
| 2006* | $59 | $7.4 |
| 2005 | 58 | 7.2 |
| 2004 | 48 | 5.9 |
| 2003 | 75 | 9.4 |
| 2002 | 75 | 9.4 |
| 2001 | 62 | 7.8 |
| 2000 | 47 | 5.9 |
Source: State
legislative web site.
*Governor's proposed funding.
What: Town Meeting on Funding for the Libraries
Where: Charles Santore Branch, 7th and Carpenter Sts.
When: Friday, May 6, 2005 at 6 pm
More info: Contact Amy Dougherty, Friends of the Free Library 215-567-4562
Read news reports on the library crisis.