The following articlewas originally published in the Ohio Capital Journal and published on News5Cleveland.com under a content-sharing agreement.
With state revenues not meeting projections as hoped, library systems are making choices about programs and staffing, and even cutting hours to make ends meet. Libraries receive funding from the Public Library Fund, a state-subsidized account which currently takes 1.7% of the general revenue fund and distributes it to Ohio’s public libraries.
While the OLC and local libraries are grateful for state funding, because of a 1970s-era state law, libraries don’t see inflationary growth on the millage they receive from property tax levies, and the state does not provide facilities funding for libraries either, meaning maintenance has been deferred sometimes for decades.
In 2004, only 74 of the 251 libraries the OLC represents had levies on the books. This year, 203 libraries rely on levies for funding, and only 48 live without them. Though the funding discussions were happening long before COVID threw everyone for a loop, Van Bebber said that period really ratcheted up pivoting strategies.