Waukesha County Federated Library System Speak Up! For Libraries

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Common School Fund Threatened

BACKGROUND

Legislation related to nursing home regulation, introduced as companion bills AB-302 and SB-212, will reduce funding available to the school libraries, if passed.

The Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) says the legislation could cost the Common School Fund (CSF) at least $1.5 million per year because it diverts fines and forfeitures on nursing homes from the CSF. This represents an estimated 5% of the total funds distributed.

The Common School Fund provides annual library aid support to all Wisconsin public school districts. It was established by the Wisconsin's Constitution to create a constitutionally protected form of public education financing.

Adapted from the Wisconsin Library Association's Legislation & Advocacy website

capwiz.com/ala/wi/home/

Take Action

Please let your state representative and senator know TODAY how you feel about this issue. Constituents need to contact their legislators today as this legislation is moving quickly through the legislature. Both bills will be voted on in committee on Thursday, October 20, 2011.

Senators Mary Lazich (Senate District 28) and Leah Vukmir (Senate District 5) are both on the Senate committee reviewing this bill. If you live in these districts, it is especially important you contact their offices as soon as you can.

If the bills are approved by committee, they go straight to the full Assembly and Senate.

For more information, go to the WLA blog at http://wlaweb.blogspot.com/2011/10/common-school-fund-threatened-contact.html

About WCFLS

It is the mission of WCFLS to ensure access to high quality customer service and activities to all county residents by working in partnership with the 16 independent member public libraries to develop and coordinate effective cooperative library services.

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