Harmful reductions to Lunch at the Library and California Library Services Act proposed

May 16, 2024

TO:                 CLA MEMBERS/ SYSTEMS/ NETWORK CONTACTS

FROM:           Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyist

RE:                 News From The Capitol – May Revision:  Cut List

Governor’s May Revision “Cut List” – Harmful reductions to Lunch at the Library and California Library Services Act proposed

Last Friday when the Governor issued his May Revision of the 2024-25 State Budget, legislators and lobbyists felt that the Revision document was somewhat incomplete and wondered if there was more to come. The Governor’s Director of Finance then announced that there would be a supplemental cut list issued that would highlight hundreds of additional proposed reductions to wide-ranging programs in the Budget, spanning all state agencies and departments, including the State Library.  As you will recall from my report to the field on Friday, the Governor is attempting to tackle a projected remaining deficit of $27.6 billion and has suggested a package of reductions totaling $15.2 billion for 2024-25. Contained on the “cut list” are several very concerning, proposed reductions to public library programs:

• A proposal to essentially zero out the Lunch at the Library program by reducing the ongoing funding by $5.5 million.
• A proposal to cut the California Library Services Act by 50%.(A $1.8 million reduction.)
• A proposal to take $4.4 million that is remaining in the library infrastructure grant program and use it to balance the State Budget.(You may recall that the Governor’s January Budget wanted to take $131 million in unused/unencumbered library infrastructure grants from the State Library to balance the budget.However, the Governor’s Department of Finance later learned that most of that grant money had been pledged to library projects and checks had already been issued.Thus, the DOF is scaling back their estimate, noting that now only $4.4 million remains in the unspent account.)
• A proposal to cut $40 million of the remaining $59 million in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program.

CLA has submitted a letter to the Assembly and Senate Budget Subcommittees indicating that the Association is strongly opposed to the Governor’s proposed May Revision cuts for the Lunch at the Library and the California Library Services Act.  CLA is respectfully requesting that the Budget subcommittees reject the Governor’s reductions for these two issues, as they will dismantle the programs.  CLA notes that instead of balancing the Budget on the backs of low-income children and teens seeking a summer meal at the library, or significantly hampering the ability of the regional systems to provide valuable subscriptions like LINK+ and other essential community resources, the legislature and the Governor should draw down the State Reserves in an amount sufficient to save these and other critical services. 

CLA encourages the Systems, individual libraries, and Friends groups to take a minute today to write the two Chairs of the Budget Subcommittees that have purview over these issues and note how these cuts will affect library programs in your area.  Their contact information is listed below.   Also, if you are represented by any of the Senators or Assemblymembers on the list below, it is essential that you reach out to them, as it is important for legislators to hear directly from their constituents.

While the legislature has until June 15^th to send a balanced Budget to the Governor, the negotiation process moves fast during this time of year.  Budget subcommittees have begun examining the Governor’s May Revision and will debate the merits of adopting or rejecting the Governor’s proposals.  The subcommittees may close out their recommendations by the end of next week, so it is important to act now. 

Thank you in advance for your help.  Letters may be addressed to:

The Honorable John Laird, Chair

Senate Budget Subcommittee #1 on Education Finance

1021 O Street, Suite 8720

Sacramento, CA  95814

RE:  Governor’s May Revision – STATE LIBRARY:  OPPOSED TO CUTS TO CALIFORNIA LIBRARY SERVICES ACT AND LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY

Dear Senator Laird,

[email this Senator Laird letter to Christopher.Francis@sen.ca.gov (Senate Budget Subcommittee consultant) and please cc: Richard.Stapler@sen.ca.gov  (Chief of Staff to Senator Laird)]  If you would prefer to call Senator Laird’s Capitol office, the number is:  (916) 651-4017.  Tell the staff who answers the phone that you are calling to leave a message for Senator Laird in his capacity as Chair of Budget Sub 1.   Please ask them to give a message to Richard Stapler indicating that you oppose the Governor’s May Revision cuts to CSLA and Lunch at the Library.  Be prepared to identify yourself, your library or System, etc.    If you are represented by Senator Laird, please note that fact at the beginning of your call. 

And –

The Honorable David Alvarez, Chair

Assembly Budget Subcommittee #3 on Education Finance

1021 O Street, Suite 5320

Sacramento, CA   95814

RE:  Governor’s May Revision – STATE LIBRARY:  OPPOSED TO CUTS TO CALIFORNIA LIBRARY SERVICES ACT AND LUNCH AT THE LIBRARY

Dear Assemblymember Alvarez,

[email Mr. Alvarez’s letter to Mark.Martin@asm.ca.gov  (Assembly Budget Subcommittee consultant) and please cc:  David.Takashima@asm.ca.gov  (Chief of Staff to Assemblymember Alvarez)]  If you would prefer to call, here is the number for Chair Alvarez’s office:  (916) 319-2080.  You can use the same format as is mentioned above for Senator Laird.  Indicate that you want to leave a message for David Takashima to pass on to Chair Alvarez.

 Additional key legislators: 

Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance

Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego), Chair

Assemblymember Megan Dahle (R-Bieber)

Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra)

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento)

Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance)

Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Palm Springs)

Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Finance

Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Chair

Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose)

Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita)

Additional Key Leaders

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-San Fernando Valley), Assembly Budget Committee Chair

Assemblymember Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair

Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), Senate Budget Committee Chair

Senator Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks), Senate Budget Committee Vice Chair

Speaker of the California State Assembly, Robert Rivas (D-Hollister)

Senate President pro Tem Mike McGuire (D-Geyserville)

Assembly Republican Leader, James Gallagher (R-Nicolaus)

Senate Republican Leader, Brian Jones (R-Santee)

Senate President pro Tem-Emeritus, Toni Atkins (D-San Diego)

Recipient of the 2024 CLA President’s Award