Library funding

As taxpayers and supporters of your local library, we want to ensure that the residents of Lucas County are informed about recent changes and updates regarding the State Budget of Ohio. Here are some facts on the Public Library Fund:

• Roughly 40% of TLCPL’s total operational budget (materials, staff, building maintenance, programs) is supported by the Public Library Fund of Ohio.
• The Public Library Fund is reauthorized every two years in the state budget.
• The Public Library Fund receives just 1.7% of the Ohio General Revenue Fund and is shared amongst all 251 public library systems across the state.
• 48 of the 251 public library systems in Ohio solely rely on the Public Library Fund for operational funding.
• The state has supported public libraries with funding to deliver services at the local level for nearly a century.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND ADVOCACY

TLCPL and public libraries across the state of Ohio have been advocating for a small percentage increase in the Public Library Fund. Why?

• The Public Library Fund has not been adjusted for inflation in 25 years.
• In 2024, the Public Library Fund saw a $27 million shortfall that forced several libraries, including TLCPL, to make funding cuts that didn’t impact customer experience.
• Usage is growing in Ohio libraries. In 2024, Ohioans visited their local libraries more than 48 million times.
• Right now, the Public Library Fund makes up less than 0.5% of the entire state budget.
• For every $1 invested in public libraries, residents see a $5 return in valued services.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been a strong supporter of public libraries in Ohio. In his budget proposal to the Statehouse, the Governor recommended funding public libraries at 1.75% of the Ohio General Revenue Fund—just a .05% increase.

• In fiscal year 2026, this increase would have led to a projected $531.7 million for the Public Library Fund.
• In fiscal year 2027, this would have led to a projected $549.1 million for the Public Library Fund.

ACTIONS IN THE HOUSE

You may recall that in April, the Library asked for your help contacting your Ohio House of Representatives Member in response to their budget proposal to reduce the Public Library Fund. Even with your outpouring of support—thousands of emails and hundreds of letters sent from Lucas County—the House passed a budget bill proposal that still included reduced funding for libraries, along with additional library operations restrictions.

• The House voted to remove the Public Library Fund as it currently stands (1.7% of Ohio’s General Revenue Fund) and move this fund to fiscal year appropriations.
  • Appropriations are year-by-year lump sums of money, which are much more vulnerable to future funding cuts.
• In fiscal year 2026, the House’s budget would deliver $490 million to the Public Library Fund.
• In fiscal year 2027, the House’s budget would deliver $500 million to the Public Library Fund.

ACTIONS IN THE SENATE

On June 11, the Ohio Senate reaffirmed and passed the House’s budget proposal for the Public Library Fund. If signed into law by Governor DeWine on June 30, public libraries in Ohio will see negative and wide-ranging implications.

• In fiscal year 2026, the Senate proposal would deliver $490 million to the Public Library Fund.
• In fiscal year 2027, the Senate proposal would deliver $500 million to the Public Library Fund.
• In addition, the following state agencies and entities would be funded through the Public Library Fund, further reducing state funding for public libraries from the line-item appropriation: State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library, Regional Library Systems, Ohio Public Library Information Network and the Library for the Blind.
  • These expenses include the State Library of Ohio, Ohioana Library, Ohio Public Library Information Network, the Library for the Blind, and Regional Library Systems.

OTHER NEGATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST LIBRARIES

Additionally, the Senate has reconfirmed the House’s proposal to segregate materials that discuss gender and sex from minors and reduce the library Board of Trustees’ term limits from seven to four years. It also eliminates our ability to self-request property tax levy replacements and for the County Budget Commission to reduce our property tax collection if they believe we have enough money to operate.

NEXT STEPS

There are still some steps remaining in this budget process. We are continuing to advocate for the reinstatement of the Governor’s 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 though the state general operating budget proposal has passed both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, there is still time to advocate via the budget conference committee—which is composed of leadership from the Senate and House—which happens before the budget gets to the Governor’s desk.

At this stage in the process, direct conversations between legislative leaders and library leaders are likely to 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, support, technologies, building access, and staff support that you depend on.

If you’re interested, here is where the Legislative Service Commission provides a comparison between the House and Senate bills (mention of the Public Library Fund is on page 732, with other Public Library Fund services reductions on pages 554, 555, and 556).

We will keep you apprised of the Senate’s efforts and our responses.