Library System Funding Formula Process
The Library Systems Act Advisory Board held a meeting on
February 23rd. After reviewing funding formula options, the Board recommended
that Scenario 5 (see below) be the focus
of discussions over the next month. The Board will meet again on April 2nd
to consider comments they have received from the library community on this
scenario and to make a final system funding formula recommendation for consideration
by the Texas State Library & Archives Commission. This formula would be
recommended for the SFY08-09 biennium, while the library community discusses
in more depth the system program and funding options.
The Commission will be asked to approve this final recommendation for posting
in the Texas Register for the official 30 day public comment period. After
the comment period the rule may be considered for adoption at the Commission's
June 15 meeting, either as proposed or revised, based on comments received.
Please review existing comments
and add your comments about this scenario or other
options that you feel should be considered in formulating the system funding
formula.
System Funding (based on 2004 Estimated Census)
Scenario 5
System |
# of public libs |
% of Pop |
34%
Equal |
33%
per library |
33%
per Capita |
Totals |
% of Total |
Range of % |
TPLS |
31 |
1.8% |
$180,200 |
$98,045 |
$31,710 |
$309,955 |
5.8% |
11.1% |
BCLS |
41 |
2.1% |
$180,200 |
$129,673 |
$36,245 |
$346,118 |
6.5% |
|
WTLS |
35 |
3.3% |
$180,200 |
$110,696 |
$57,076 |
$347,972 |
6.6% |
|
TTPLS |
16 |
3.4% |
$180,200 |
$50,604 |
$59,649 |
$290,453 |
5.5% |
< out of sequence |
STLS |
54 |
9.3% |
$180,200 |
$170,788 |
$162,551 |
$513,539 |
9.7% |
|
AALS |
46 |
9.4% |
$180,200 |
$145,486 |
$164,459 |
$490,145 |
9.2% |
< out of sequence |
CTLS |
77 |
11.2% |
$180,200 |
$243,532 |
$195,935 |
$619,667 |
11.7% |
|
NTRLS |
75 |
12.2% |
$180,200 |
$237,206 |
$214,094 |
$631,500 |
11.9% |
|
NETLS |
108 |
20.3% |
$180,200 |
$341,577 |
$355,340 |
$877,117 |
16.5% |
< out of sequence |
HALS |
70 |
27.0% |
$180,200 |
$221,392 |
$471,941 |
$873,533 |
16.5% |
|
Totals |
553 |
100.0% |
$1,802,000 |
$1,748,999 |
$1,749,000 |
$5,299,999 |
|
total grant |
$5,300,000 |
|
$3,163 per lib |
|
|
|
|
|
Drafted by TSL staff for review/discussion by LSAA Board.
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Background
One of the Sunset staff recommendations approved by the Sunset Commission
is:
Issue 2: The structure for funding regional library systems fails to provide
flexibility to meet changing conditions or encourage innovation.
Recommendations:
- 2.1 Remove the system funding formula from statute and require the Commission
to adopt a new formula in rule that provides flexibility but continues to
ensure funding for basic system support services.
- 2.2 Require TSLAC to distribute a portion of system funds in competitive
grants aimed at increasing innovation and targeting state and federal goals.
- 2.3 TSLAC should use its Library Systems Act Advisory Board in the development
of a new system formula.
The existing formula in statute states:
Sec. 441.138.
(d) Twenty-five percent of system operation grants shall be apportioned
equally among the major resource systems and regional library systems that
are operating under commission-approved programs of services, budgets, and
bylaws or contracts, and the remaining 75 percent of these grants shall be
apportioned among those systems on a per capita basis determined by the most
recent decennial census or the most recent official population estimate of
the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.
Over time population shifts in the state have led to the serious decline
of funding for some systems, leading to large inequities in the resources
available to public libraries statewide.
Comment on the Process
*Please note: this process is for funding for the systems
(AALS, BCLS, CTLS, HALS, NTRLS, NETLS, TTPLS, TPLS, WTLS, STLS), not individual
libraries.
An online commenting form has been provided
to collect feedback. Comments may also be sent directly to individual Board
members or to TSLAC staff throughout the process.
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