Thank you patrons for your amazing support!

You have sent thousands of emails and made countless phone calls to our legislators, and your voice has been heard by our state legislators and the Governor. The General Assembly has been deluged with emails and phone calls from library supporters.

What's Next?
We know the Governor and the state legislators have a very difficult job ahead of them in the next few days as they complete their work on the budget.

Updates
Friday, July 2: At a press conference at 1:15 p.m. today, Governor Strickland commented on his proposed "framework," originally presented on June 19, to balance the state's 2010-11 budget. He stated that his proposals were intended
to be "a starting point not an ending point."

For the most part, the Governor's comments focused on the technical and
legal aspects of why legislative action was necessary to permit video
lottery terminals (slot machines) at Ohio's racetracks. He also focused
on how the revenue from the proposed VLTs would help balance the state's
budget. At no point during his comments or in the Q&A session did the
Governor address any specifics regarding expenditures, including public
library funding.

In related news, current indications out of the Statehouse are that the
hearings scheduled by the House Finance and Appropriations Committee may
be cancelled, either completely or after today's initial session.
Updates will be provided as necessary. (Source: Ohio Library Council)

Tuesday, June 30: Second Continuing Budget Introduced in House
 
The House took action on a week-long continuing budget and also set a vote for Thursday on another week extension, through July 14. (Source: www.gongwer-oh.com)

Monday, June 29: The Conference Committee on the budget (HB 1) has canceled for Sunday and rescheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Monday in Statehouse Room 313.

The Senate is expected Monday to approve a seven-day budget that funds state government operations into the new fiscal year. The interim spending plan - to be adopted as an amendment to the Industrial Commission's budget (HB 16) - will fund programs at 70% of actual fiscal year 2009 spending, the Senate Republican Caucus said. (Source: www.gongwer-oh.com)

Cleveland City Council is putting forth an Emergency Resolution on July 1, 2009, urging the Ohio General Assembly to reject Governor Strickland's proposed budget cuts of state funding to Ohio's public libraries.