March 4, 2003
| TO: | Cla Members/ Systems/ Network Contacts |
| FROM: | Mike Dillon, Lobbyist Christina Dillon, Lobbyist |
| RE: | News From The Capitol |
I. Governor's Budget Proposal Eliminates Transaction Based Reimbursement Funds
You may recall from our January memo regarding the Governor's 2003-04 Budget, that Governor Davis proposes to eliminate all $12.1 million in funding for the Transaction Based Reimbursement (TBR) program. The Governor proposes to replace state funding for the program with a "fee-based approach" which would require that libraries begin charging a $1 fee per item for direct loans, and a $5 fee per item for Inter-Library Loans. The Governor's announcement garnered immediate opposition from those in the library community, who believe that the proposal threatens the fundamental concept of a cooperative and seamless library lending program in California. Further, the proposal potentially jeopardizes matching LSTA grant monies, if the $12.1 million is eliminated by the legislature or Governor.
On February 14, 2003, the CLA Legislative Committee, Chaired by Anne Cain, voted to support a statewide grass roots effort to educate local officials, state legislators, library patrons, and affected entities, regarding the Governor's plan to eliminate the TBR. The massive outreach effort is being spearheaded by Linda Crowe, San Mateo County Library Director.
This morning, we delivered 120 letters - one to each member of the State Legislature, urging they oppose the Governor's drastic action (please see the attached). The purpose of the letter was to provide basic information to the legislators regarding TBR and to inform them that you will be contacting them to share your concerns about the fate of the program. Please note that in addition to the more than thirty new members of the legislature who may not be familiar with library services delivery and library funding, we anticipate that this will be an important educational opportunity for all members of the legislature. Since the TBR has never been threatened to this extent in its 30 years of existence, and has been a reliable and effective program, the legislature is not going to be familiar with the TBR, its impact locally, and why a shift to a fee-based system is not an acceptable option for the library community. We encourage you to contact your legislator via phone or mail and share your concerns.
(FOR YOUR INFORMATION, THE LETTER THAT THE DILLONS SENT TO THE LEGISLATURE IS ATTACHED)
II. Budget Subcommittees to Begin Hearings This Week
This week the Senate and Assembly Budget Subcommittees will begin holding hearings regarding the Governor's 2003-04 Budget. The Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance will hear the issue of the Public Library Foundation (proposed reduction of $15.8 million) and the Transaction Based Reimbursement (proposed elimination of all funding - $12.1 million, and a shift to fee-based charges of $1 for each direct loan, and $5 for each Inter-Library Loan) during the same hearing. The Senate has set its hearing for both issues on Monday, April 28, 2003 at 1:30 p.m. The Assembly schedule has not been set as of this writing.
Please take a moment today and write the members of the Budget Subcommittees if you are impacted by one or both of these issues. You may recall that the recommendations of the subcommittees are crucial to the process, as the members may choose to 1) reject the Governor's proposal, 2) accept the Governor's proposal, or 3) offer a compromise proposal of some dollar amount in between. Success at the subcommittee level is a critical first step.
Senate Budget Subcommittee Number One on Education Finance
Chair, Senator Jack Scott
Senator Bob Margett
Senator John Vasconcellos
Assembly Budget Subcommittee Number Two on Education Finance
Chair, Assemblyman Joe Simitian
Assemblywoman Wilma Chan
Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg
Assemblywoman Carol Liu
Assemblywoman Sharon Runner
Sample address:
The Honorable Jack Scott
Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee Number Two on Education Finance
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA. 95814