2023-2024 Legislative Session

State Budget

Pennsylvania Library Association (PaLA) Advocacy Priorities

2024 ASK: 4% increase ($2.8 million)
Handout

Governor’s Proposed Budget 2024-25

• Highlights
  • Level funding for the public library subsidy (same amount of state aid as last year)
  • Proposed increasing minimum wage to $15/hour.

Notes on the Appropriations Committee Hearings in House & Senate

Overall, the main focus was on the basic education funding formula, so only two questions about libraries.

Trends:
– Accountability for PDE – Committee members wanted strong justifications for each value that was put forth
– Projections – Committee members wanted to see what the projected costs would be to meet Commonwealth goals
– Mandates – There were pointed questions about mandates and whether or not the Department of Education was accurately tracking and/or enforcing them.

What you can do:
Tell your representatives and senators how much an increase in state aid would help your community. What would you do with it? What benefits would your community see?

Read our full analysis!