CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The Chillicothe & Ross County Public Library is calling on residents to take action as Ohio lawmakers consider a proposal that could strip $100 million from public library funding over the next two years.
The Ohio House of Representatives’ proposed state budget seeks to eliminate the Public Library Fund (PLF), a long-standing financial pillar that provides the majority of funding for public libraries across the state. If approved, this change would remove legal protections for library funding, making it a discretionary part of the state budget and leaving it vulnerable to future cuts.
Here in Ross County, 54% of the library’s operating budget comes from the Public Library Fund, with an additional 38% supported by local tax levies and 8% from grants, investments, and donations.…