[Nmtriblibs] FW: [EXTERNAL] 2024 NMLA Legislative Bulletin #3

[Moore, Patricia, DCA]

Forwarded on behalf of Joe Sabatini…thank you, Joe.

Patricia

Patricia Moore
GO Bond / Public Library Consultant
New Mexico State Library / Development Bureau
1209 Camino Carlos Rey / Santa Fe, NM   87507
505-476-9724 / 800-340-3890

From: Joe Sabatini <jsabatini423 at gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 9, 2024 10:18 PM
Subject: [EXTERNAL] 2024 NMLA Legislative Bulletin #3

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2024 NMLA Legislative Bulletin #3                                                                                                                                                      January 9, 2024

2024-25 budget requests were published this week by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) and the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).  The Legislature's budget process reconciles differences between the Governor's budget recommendations and the LFC's recommendations.

Library G.O. Bond Issue

Both the DFA and the LFC recommend a 2024 Library General Obligation Bond Issue funded at the 2022 level of $19 million.

The LFC recommendation is in:
Volume 2, LFC Appropriation Recommendations for FY25  p. 497
https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/Session_Publications/Budget_Recommendations/FY25%20Volume%202%20Appropriations%20Recommendation.pdf

"Libraries. The New Mexico Library Association requested $19 million in general obligation bonds for distribution to academic, public school, public, and tribal libraries statewide. The LFC framework supports the request, including $6 million distributions to academic, public school, and public libraries and a $1 million distribution to tribal libraries."

The Executive Budget recommendation is in https://www.nmdfa.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/FY25-Executive-Budget-Recommendation-Web-FINAL.pdf
on page XXVI of the Introduction.

"Specifically, capital investments include $350 million in Severance Tax Bond (STB) capacity, $298.6 million in General Obligation Bond (GOB) capacity, $850 million in General Fund capacity, and $68.5 million in other funding sources. The available GOB capital funding will be used to address over $230 million in higher education institution requests to replace older buildings and help with other campus infrastructure needs. In addition, the State will use GOBs to fund senior citizen center requests throughout New Mexico totaling over $30 million for equipment, new vehicles for food delivery and renovation or new construction of facilities. We will also use GOBs to fund libraries totaling $19 million. The available General Fund capacity will be used to invest roughly $500 million in state agency capital outlay investments, with another $500 million being used for local investments.

Rural Libraries Endowment

At the November 14th LFC hearing on the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) budget, Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego noted the Administration's request for a $15 million appropriation to the Rural Library Endowment Fund. In the Executive Budget Recommendations, at p. 58, Table 4: Special, Supplemental, Deficiency, IT, and ARPA Appropriations, the Governor is now asking for $10 million. However, there is no recommendation for additional Rural Libraries Endowment funding in the Legislative Finance Committee recommendations. The program as envisioned by prime sponsor Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino, co-sponsored by Representative Gail Armstrong, seeks to have an endowment fund of over $50 million to yield effective assistance to public and tribal libraries serving communities under 3,000 people.

The Rural Libraries Initiative has been conducting a publicity campaign with local legislators utilizing postcards with pictures of their local libraries. About 1,500 postcards have already been sent. The Rural Libraries Initiative and the NMLA Legislation Committee will be working to publicize the need for full funding of the Endowment. Supporters should contact their local legislators, as well as members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. These members are listed below. Email addresses are on the Legislature's website in the Legislators tab.

https://nmlegis.gov/


New Mexico State Library Staffing and Budget

Here is the LFC recommendation for the State Library:
https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/Session_Publications/Budget_Recommendations/FY25%20Volume%202%20Appropriations%20Recommendation.pdf  p. 505

New Mexico State Library. The Library Services Program provides services that support public and tribal libraries. The program consists of four bureaus—Public Services, Development, Technical Services, and Operations. The Development Bureau administers four important funding programs for public and tribal libraries: state grants-in-aid (SGIA), tribal library program grants, rural library endowment fund, and general obligation bonds. The program received funds for the rural library endowment fund in FY22 and will make its first round of distributions in FY24.

"The Library Services Program requested a general fund increase of $183.4 thousand, or 4 percent. The program projected an increase of $111.9 thousand, or 51 percent, for other transfers, other revenue, and federal revenue. The request for general fund revenue included $7,900 for personnel rate increases and $75.5 thousand for computer and equipment replacement. The agency requested a flat budget for contractual services. Additionally, the agency requested an expansion of $100 thousand to fund an additional FTE position for a librarian continuing education coordinator. The LFC recommendation fully funds the agency’s request."

"The agency requested $100 thousand for the Library Services Program to fund an additional FTE position for a continuing education coordinator. This position would help identify common training and education needs for library workers statewide and create continuing engagement opportunities and timely information freely available to all New Mexico library workers. LFC supports the agency’s expansion."

The Continuing Education position in the Development Department was deleted in a budget reduction "sweeping" vacant positions. NMLA supports the restoration of this position.

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Now is the time to be contacting your local legislators to request local capital outlay requests.
*********************
NMLA Library Legislative Day will be Friday, January 26th. Please ask library supporters, including your local board members and friends groups to save the date and plan to be there.

Joe Sabatini, Co-Chair
NMLA Legislation Committee

https://nmlegis.gov/

[cid:ii_lr7bfv7s0]

Senate Finance Committee

[cid:ii_lr7bhsmk1]


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