Governor Proposes 18% Cut in State Library Aid

Governor Paterson's budget proposes that New York State reduces aid to libraries by $18 million for the 2009 fiscal year.  If passed, this would bring Library Aid back to the level it had in 1993.  Last year library aid was cut from $102 million to $98.5 million, which was only a 3% reduction.  Although an $800,000 line item called Public Library Construction Aid was dropped, there remains a State-level fund of $14 million for library construction--which is not all that much when the $14 million is spread around the state. 

Although the main funding for the Pleasant Valley Free Library comes from Town taxes, State money is especially important in maintaining the services of the Mid-Hudson Library System. Furthermore, the State funds are significant in terms of the budget.