Ohio Libraries Look To Tax Levies For Relief

By: AP | NBC4i.com
Published: October 03, 2009

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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- State funding cuts are pushing a record number of Ohio's public libraries to seek local tax levies as they struggle to keep branches open and avoid cutting services.

At least 38 of the state's 251 systems have levies on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Ohio Library Council says that's the highest number of levies sought at one time in the 30 years the council has kept records. The recession and additional legislative cuts have reduced Ohio funding by 20 percent from $450 million in 2008 to almost $367 million this year.

An American Library Association survey showed 41 percent of states reporting decreased state funding in the 2009 fiscal year with more cuts expected.

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