State Budget Update: What It Means for Your Library

The following outlines how our library funding currently works, summarizes what changes are being proposed, and explains what happens in the coming days. Please consider sharing your opinion about the proposed bill with Governor DeWine before he must finalize the 2026-2027 Ohio biennium budget by June 30.

Governor Mike DeWine
Main Line: (614) 466-3555
Governor’s Hotline: (614) 644-4357
https://governor.ohio.gov/contact

A Brief History of Library Funding in Ohio

Most public libraries in Ohio receive a significant portion of their funding from the Public Library Fund (PLF). The PLF is a share of the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF); the PLF is currently set at 1.7%.

This model ties library funding directly to state tax revenues – meaning the dollars libraries receive can rise or fall, depending on the state’s economic performance. When state revenues increase, library funding typically increases. When state revenues decline, so does the PLF.

While the percentage itself has sometimes changed over the years, the PLF remains the primary funding source for most public libraries in Ohio. The formula has not been adjusted for inflation in over 25 years, despite growing demand and rising costs. In Clermont County, more than half of the Library’s budget dollars come from the PLF. The remainder comes from a local continuing property tax levy, which was last placed on the ballot in 2008.

Proposed Changes in the 2026–2027 State Budget

The following changes related to public libraries appear in the current version of the budget:

1. Funding Formula Shift

Instead of tying the PLF to 1.7% of the General Revenue Fund, the PLF would be funded as a fixed line-item appropriation:

  • $490 million in Fiscal Year 2026
  • $500 million in Fiscal Year 2027

This change would set a specific dollar amount for library funding, rather than allowing it to fluctuate with the state’s overall revenue.

The Library’s past and proposed allocations of the PLF:

  • 2027 proposed estimate – $6,777,511
  • 2026 proposed estimate – $6,639,117
  •  2025 estimate – $6,983,591
  • 2024 – $6,667,265
  • 2023 – $7,037,019
  • 2022 – $6,929,457
  • 2021 – $6,405,574

2. State-Level Deductions from the PLF

The proposed budget allocates approximately $10.3 million per year from the PLF to other statewide library-related services. This would reduce the amount distributed directly to local libraries.

3. Local Levy Provisions

  • Replacement levies would no longer be permitted. These levies allow taxing authorities to reset property tax rates to current property values without increasing the tax rate itself.
  • County budget commissions would be granted authority to reduce the amount collected from voter-approved property tax levies if the budget commission determines that the taxing entity—such as a library, park district, or other local government unit – has sufficient funding.

The Clermont County Public Library operates in part using a local levy approved by voters in 2008 and is not expecting to pursue a replacement or other type of levy.

4. Collection Management Language

The proposed budget contains a provision requiring public libraries to relocate materials related to sexual orientation or gender identity so they are not visible to individuals under the age of 18. This requirement would apply regardless of the intended age range of the material or its context within the collection, including a wide range of children’s books that describe traditional gender roles such as potty training for boys.

What’s Next

The budget bill must be signed by June 30 for the appropriations to take effect July 1, the first day of the new state fiscal year.

If you have comments or concerns about the proposed budget bill, share your opinion. Send an email or call Governor DeWine by June 30.

Governor Mike DeWine
Main Line: (614) 466-3555
Governor’s Hotline: (614) 644-4357
https://governor.ohio.gov/contact