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The budget passed Sunday contains most of the funding in the State Library's revised request, except for a major cut in funds for the TexShare databases. Apart from the databases, the Legislature approved almost all of the TSLAC revised request that directly impacts local libraries -- for Systems, TANG, Loan Star Libraries grants, etc. (Details of the February revised request are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/agency/budgetinfo.html#2004.) TSLAC requested $7.5M each year for the TexShare databases, but they were cut to $4M, plus authorization to collect up to $500,000 in fees from libraries. ($6M of the $7.5M would have come from TIF, but the Legislature decided to use most of the TIF funds available for the K-12 technology allotment.) You probably won't see a dramatic reduction in databases until July 04 because TSLAC has $7.5M in FY03 funds to renew most subscriptions for the next year. Here's the funding situation: July 02 to June 03 - $9.2M (includes netLibrary ebooks) July 03 to June 04 - $7.5M July 04 to June 05 - $4M plus $500,000 in fees July 05 to June 06 - $4M plus $500,000 in fees The TIF fund was originally capped at $1.5 billion, and that cap is expected to be reached by the end of 2003. The Legislature increased the cap to $1.75B so the comptroller can continue to collect funds in 04-05. Most observers believe that the Legislature increased the cap in anticipation of another budget shortfall in 05. It seems unlikely that libraries will benefit from the additional $250M. Since there probably won't be any more grants, the TIF agency itself was funded only for 04; presumably they will close out the existing grants and shut down by August 04. Strictly speaking, the budget will not be final until the comptroller certifies it and the governor signs it, but it appears that will occur within a few weeks. Bob Gaines --------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Include in body: unsubscribe ctls-l For information on CTLS-L please visit: http://www.ctls.net/document/ctls-l.htm
