Proposed State Budget Would Cut Westlake Porter Public Library Funding 5 Percent

Since 2008, Ohio libraries have seen state funding reduced by 23 percent and they may be facing another 5 percent cut under the new state budget. The budget proposed by Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday would cut funding for local governments, libraries and schools among others.

Westlake Porter Public Library was prepared for the reduced funding and budgeted for a 15 to 20 percent cut from the state this year.

“The proposed budget does cut library funding again, but we’re relieved at the cut,” said Director Andrew Mangels. “It’s all fairly new and raw, and as the budget comes out, we’ll see a little more.”

According to the Ohio Library Council, 38 percent of all public libraries in the state reliy solely on the state Public Library Fund to provide services. Westlake Porter Public Library only receives 25 percent of its approximately $4.5 million budget from the state with the rest coming from a local levy.

"What’s amazing about that is 4 years ago it was 75 perecnet of libraries in Ohio that were state funded," Mangels said. "We rely more heavily on local money, but state funding is still critical.”

Mangels added that library funding has either decreased or remained static since 2001, making the budget tight and forcing more libraries to ask residents for support.

“State funding has been whittled away year after year, and more and more libraries and going to their local communities for support,” Mangels said. “Four years ago, our percentage of local to state funding was closer to 65 (percent) to 45 (percent) state to local funding, then 70-30 and now we’re at 75-25.”