GOVERNOR BROWN RELEASES 2012-13 BUDGET EARLY

January 5, 2012

GOVERNOR BROWN RELEASES 2012-13 BUDGET EARLY, DUE TO MIX-UP: No New Funding For Libraries Provided Governor Jerry Brown was scheduled to release his January 2012-13 Budget next Tuesday at 9 a.m., per the annual constitutional deadline. However, at some point today the Administration became aware that the Department of Finance had accidentally posted an early copy of the Governor’s 2012-13 Budget to its public website, which necessitated a quick change in plans for the Governor. At 1:30 p.m. we received word that the Governor would call the press corps together at 2:30 p.m. today to unveil the Budget a little ahead of schedule. When he subsequently met with the press, the Governor thanked them for convening with “relatively short notice. There are no secrets in government. The Budget was released earlier than planned.”

The Governor said that his focus for 2012-13 would be to push for his tax plan, which will appear on the November 2012 ballot (a half cent sales tax increase for five years and an increase in the income tax on $250K filers), as well as “paying down the wall of debt.” He announced significant cuts to welfare programs (totaling $1.5 billion) and child care programs and he announced another “trigger” plan affecting higher education and K-12 schools, should the tax plan not pass in November. The Governor provided no new funding for public library programs and, in fact, proposed a reduction to the State Library Administration.

You will recall that when the Governor and the Department of Finance announced they would be pulling the so-called “trigger” on massive reductions to UC, CSU, In Home Support Services, etc. in December, that action also included elimination of the $16 million in remaining funding for the California Library Services Act, the state literacy program, and the Public Library Foundation. In the Governor’s Budget released today, he does not restore any of the so-called “trigger cuts” for public libraries. In fact, the Governor’s Budget makes a $1.1 million cut to the State Library Administration Budget “to reflect a decrease in anticipated administrative workload resulting from 2011-12 trigger reductions that eliminated $15.9 million in local assistance programs.” The Budget document goes on to state, “Despite this reduction, the California State Library will continue to preserve California’s history and cultural heritage, and share its collection of historic documents with the citizens of California.”

Next Steps

As previously reported, in early March the Budget Subcommittees on Education Finance (one in the Senate and one in the Assembly) will begin their work, examining the Governor’s 2012-13 Budget. In the meantime, we will be working with legislators at the Capitol, encouraging them to build library funding back into the new State Budget. We are going to be leaning on all of you in the coming weeks to write letters to the members of the subcommittees, and then subsequently to the full Budget Committees. Next week we will send out another alert, confirming all of the 2012 subcommittee conferees, and providing legislator contact information, and some “talking points.” This is going to be a challenging year. Please look for an update from us in the coming days.

 

Carol Simmons, Executive Director

California Library Association

2471 Flores Street San Mateo, CA 94403

csimmons@cla-net.org

650-376-0886(ph)

650-539-2341 (fax)

www.cla-net.org

SUMMER SESSION 2011

The Write to Read Summer session 2011 begins on June 13th. During the months of June, July and August, there will be several Reading Clubs offered to second language learners, computer labs and two workshops open to tutors and learners. See below for a description of the workshops. Participants must sign-up to attend any Write to Read class or workshop. You must be a current student or tutor. Please call (510) 745-1480 to register.

SUMMER WORSHOPS

Taught by Sandra Barton.

Fun with Writing

Tuesday, July 12^th, 6-8:30 p.m. 

Join us in exploring different writing methods, strategies, and other fun ways to get our brains geared toward the writing process.  This workshop is for teachers, tutors, and adult learners who would like to practice different, non-traditional ways to approach writing. We will aim to write and to look at some of writing’s different rhetorical components, such as: narration, description, cause / effect, and process The key concepts we will be focusing on are: vocabulary/word choice, brainstorming/drafting, and organizing/composing. You will leave this workshop with materials and fun, new ways to get started writing!

Introduction to Basic Math

Tuesday, July 26^th, 6-8:30 p.m. 

In this workshop, we are going to first learn why we DO or DON’T like math. There will be an exploration of how we learn and don’t learn math.  We will discuss the purpose of math in everyday life and different strategies of how it can be taught, as well as learned.  Throughout the workshop, we will be discussing vocabulary, and how teaching affects learning. The math content will focus on Multiplication, Division, Decimals, Fractions, and Percents.  The strategies offered in this workshop are intended for instructors, tutors, and adult learners.

LEADERSHIP by Denise C.

               The Adult Learner Leadership Institute (ALLI) program was founded by a man who was learner like me and you. His name was Henry Huffman. My first day was on January 5, 2011. Like many people, I was scared because I thought why did they pick me to go to a leadership class. When I got there, the people welcomed me with a hugs and great big smiles. I thought what a nice place to be – friendly, outgoing and everyone had nothing but positive things to say.
 
                We began by introducing ourselves and sharing which library we came from. Faye Comb was the first speaker to tell us about ALLI (leadership class) and a little bit about how she came to the Adult Literacy Program. Then she went on to talking about the leadership program, and how she has been doing these classes for awhile now. The first day we spent talking about how they were going to equip us with tools we need to be a leader – Setting and Achieving Goals, Self Esteem, Advocacy and much more. They taught me so far that anyone can be a leader. A good leader is someone who can listen, take criticism, advice from their co-workers, friends, family and anyone who has an opinion about what you are doing, and to learn from it because you don’t have all the answers. We can learn from one another how to succeed in life and be an advocate for others who can’t do it for themselves. ALLI has taught me that I want to speak for those who trust me and appointed me to be their representative, for them, that’s what a leader does. Speak out against what you oppose whether they are work issues, voting, or your rights as a human being. That’s just some of the things this program has to offer you. It teaches you valuable lessons that you can take away with you and apply it to your everyday life. 
 

          Come join me next year at ALLI to learn the skills and be a leader for yourself, and your community. I promise you the commitment for six months is worth the time and the effort it takes. When it’s all said and done for me, to take this journey was well worth the time that I sacrificed to be a part of this tremendous group.
                                                
 

Update: Denise completed the Adult Learner Leadership Institute at the Benicia Library. The six-month leadership training was sponsored by Bay Area Literacy Network and the California State Library. She graduates on June 11th. Congratulations, Denise!

LIBRARY PROGRAMS SAVED…FOR NOW

Legislative Call to Action

BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SAVES LIBRARY PROGRAMS FROM ELIMINATION

Budget Bills Head To The Floors Next Week

March 3, 2011

From: Mike Dillon and Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

 
This afternoon the powerful 10 member Budget Conference Committee put their final mark on a massive reduction and revenues package, addressing the Governor’s plan to close a whopping $26 billion Budget deficit. One of their final actions was approving a “Conference Compromise” to spare the three library programs – the Public Library Foundation, the California Library Services Act, and the State literacy program, from elimination. You will recall that the Governor’s January Budget recommended complete elimination of $30.4 million for these three programs, which would also jeopardize millions in federal dollars associated with the CLSA. The Assembly Version of the Budget sought to spare the three programs from deep cuts, while the Senate initially agreed to accept the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the programs. And so, when the Conference Committee met this afternoon, they formally approved an action to keep the following dollar amounts in these three programs:
 
 “Conference Compromise”
*  $8.5 million in the California Library Services Act (at this funding level, also allows the State Library to maintain its federal MOE/match),
*  $3.7 million in the California Library Literacy Services program
*  $3 million in the Public Library Foundation
 
Recognizing the incredibly daunting deficit situation, there was an understanding by CLA that keeping the library program budgets whole would be nothing short of impossible, particularly when the Governor was proposing total elimination. Over the last several weeks, CLA leadership, led by President Paymaneh Maghsoudi and the CLA Legislative Committee, led by Deborah Doyle, worked with our office to craft a compromise that would preserve the basic integrity of the programs and give us something to build on when California’s economy recovers. As you can imagine, we worked tirelessly to get this compromise in front of all of the legislative leaders, Budget Conference Committee, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, staff and countless others.  Meanwhile, CLA members and library supporters continued to call and write their legislators, encouraging them to save the three library programs from elimination. This was a constant lobbying effort that ultimately resulted in a bi-partisan vote of the Budget Conference Committee today (a 5-0 vote of the Senate Conferees, and a 5-0 vote of the Assembly Conferees). This is an important footnote in that many of the items being voted on in the Conference Committee have received votes that are split along party-lines. We believe that the strong bipartisan voteon our three items will certainly help to encourage the Governor to leave the $15.2 million in the Budget for these programs.    
 
BUDGET PICTURE IS BLEAK  
PROPOSAL MAKES DEEP CUTS TO ALL PROGRAMS

 For the last two days, the Conference Committee had not met, prompting lobbyists to speculate that a deal between the Governor and the Democrats might be imminent.  This suspicion was confirmed this morning when the Governor’s Executive Secretary for Legislation, Appointments, and Policy told a group of lobbyists at a breakfast we attended and coordinated, “It is my understanding that the Conference Committee hopes to close out their work today.”

 
When the Conference Committee finally convened around 3:30 p.m. today, Chairman Bob Blumenfield noted that the members would “reconcile the remaining items but we won’t close down the Committee officially.” He said, “This proposal today makes the best out of an incredibly bad situation….Today we are backing the Governor’s cuts.  Any claim the cuts aren’t real denies the pain of them.” The Assemblyman identified several programs within Health and Human Services such as adult day health care, child care, and CalWorks, that would be receiving significant and painful reductions. In fact, the proposal adopted today by the Conference Committee will contain:  $12.6 billion in cuts, $1.1 billion in a reserve, and $12 billion in revenues.
 
The Conference Committee continues to deliberate and will likely go into the evening tonight as they address controversial issues of realignment, redevelopment, and tax increases. The intention is for the Assembly and Senate to vote on the Budget bills next week. We will give you information on Monday regarding contacting the Governor to encourage him to leave the $15.2 million in the Budget for library funding.

KEEP LIBRARY FUNDING ALIVE

 

Day 36 in Our Efforts to Maintain Library Funding Thank you for your efforts to restore library funding to the state budget! Sacramento is listening, but we can’t stop now. While the budget subcommittee hearings are done, our work is far from over. Please continue to contact your elected officials in the districts where you live AND in the district where you work! Emphasize how valuable resource sharing is to your community. Continue to let them know how libraries are helping Californians find work. Click here to write your letter today! If you have an extra minute, send a letters to the leadership of both houses. Click here to find the leader for your area. Please focus on the impact that the loss of these programs will have on their constituents and on the loss of equity of access to Californians. It is premature to discuss what budget figures libraries are willing to accept. Please avoid this! Mike Dillon and Christina Dillon DiCaro continue to meet with key legislators and would be delighted to meet with any of your legislators to further discuss the issues and possible scenarios. Your reports on meetings in your districts and at library or community functions are quite valuable. If you need additional information or numbers for an elected official, don’t hesitate to ask. Mike, Christina, CLA staff and the Legislative Committee are happy to help. Keep those calls, emails and letters coming! If you need additional information please visit the Legislative & Advocacy page on the CLA website. Thank you! Deborah Doyle Chair, CLA Legislative & Advocacy Committee 415-269-0540

You Can Help Save California Public Library & Literacy Funding!

Dear Friends of the Alameda County Library and Write to Read,

You may have heard on the news that the governor’s proposed state budget for 2011-2012 eliminates funding for public library and literacy funding. This would have a dramatic impact on libraries in Alameda County and on our literacy program.

The Governor’s Budget proposes a decrease to libraries of $30.4 million in fiscal year 2011-12, resulting in the elimination of General Fund for the following programs: The Public Library Foundation, California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services, and the California Library Services Act.

CA State Library’s Literacy funding to be eliminated

News From The Capitol
January 10, 2011

GOVERNOR RELEASES 2011-12 BUDGET – LIBRARY FUNDING DECIMATED
Proposal Would Eliminate All State Funding for PLF, TBR and Literacy
By: Mike Dillon & Christina DiCaro, CLA Lobbyists

This morning newly elected Governor, Jerry Brown, released his 2011-12 Budget proposal, calling it “painful” and one that “requires sacrifice from every sector of the state, but we have no choice.” The plan recommends a whopping $12.5 billion in cuts and $12 billion in revenue options in order to address the staggering $25 billion Budget, as well as a “vast and historic restructuring of services,” as part of the Governor’s realignment proposal.

Of the cuts revealed- by Governor Brown today is a proposal to completely eliminate all state funding for the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement and the California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Service. This amount totals $30.4 million. ($12.9 million cut to the PLF, $12.9 million cut to the $12.9 TBR and a $4.6 million cut to the literacy program). Specifically, the Governor’s Budget reads as follows:

“The Governor’s Budget proposes to decrease General Fund assistance for local libraries by $30.4 million in FY 2011-12, resulting in the elimination of General Fund for the following programs: Public Library Foundation, California Library Literacy and English Acquisition Services, and the California Library Services Act. With the exception of some limited local assistance for library development and civil liberties programs, the ability of the state to provide General Fund local assistance to the California State Library is hampered by the economic conditions of the state. Despite these reductions, the California State Library will continue to preserve California’s history and cultural heritage, and will continue to share its collection of historic documents with the citizens of California.”

You will recall from our recent alert to the field that the legislature and the lobbying corps were preparing for a “shock and awe” Budget, with the Governor pledging that no industry or program area would be spared from deep cuts. In fact, the Budget axe falls dramatically on Medi-Cal ($1.7 billion cut), CalWORKs ($1.5 billion), Department of Developmental Services ($750 million), and a $500 million cut to the California State University and $500 million cut to the University of California. The proposal also would require a 10 percent reduction “in take-home pay for state employees not currently covered under collective bargaining agreements.” Of note, the Governor expects the legislature to act on these proposed cuts – including the library related cuts – in the next few months.

As we referenced in our last alert, the Governor’s plan also centers around a large-scale realignment of state and local government services, with the first phase of the realignment to be funded from revenue from a combination of the sales tax and vehicle license fee tax extensions. The revenue extensions/solutions referenced above would need to be agreed to by the legislature no later than March so that the sweeping proposal could be placed to the voters for consideration on the June 2011 ballot.

As best we understand the Governor’s plan, the $30 million cut to the library programs would not be backfilled with the Governor’s ballot revenue proposal. Instead, those revenues would be used to prevent additional cuts to K-12 education funding and other programs, and to begin the phase-in of the Governor’s realignment proposal. The first phase of realignment focuses on public safety services, the second phase focuses on the implementation of the federal health care initiative, and under the Governor’s plan, redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones would also be eliminated.

Phase two of the plan recommends a “constitutional amendment to provide for 55% voter approval for limited tax increases and bonding against local revenues for development projects similar to those currently funded through redevelopment and for infrastructure.” In response to reporters’ questions about what happens if the voters refuse to allow extension of the current taxes for an additional 5 years, the Governor responded that there would have to be further significant cuts to “schools, prisons, and the universities.”

The CLA Legislative and Advocacy Committee will be meeting next Friday to discuss messaging and strategic responses to address the Governor’s Budget released today, and soon we will be providing you with additional contact information and talking points. In the meantime, please take a moment to contact your Assembly member and Senator and express your concerns over these devastating cuts to the Public Library Foundation, Transaction Based Reimbursement and Literacy programs. Urge them to reject these cuts when the issue is before them in the coming weeks.

EASY VOTER GUIDE: Your Vote. Your Choice.

Do you need a an easy and quick guide to the November 2, 2010 elections? Are you puzzled about the different propositions and what they mean? Click  here to open a copy of the Easy Voter Guide. The Guide is available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Learn more about voting and this election at:

www.easyvoter.org

www.sos.ca.gov

www.smartvoter.org

Important dates:

October 18, 2010 - Last day to register to vote

October 26, 2010 – Last Day for your county elections office to receive your written request for the “vote by mail” ballot

November 2, 2010 – ELECTION DAY – Polls open 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The nonpartisan Easy Voter Guide is produced by the Easy Voter Guide Project in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of California Education Fund and the California State Library.

VOLUNTEER TUTOR TRAINING

There will be a volunteer tutor training for prospective tutors interested in leading a learning pair on Monday and Wednesday, October 18 and 20 from 6-9 PM. All tutors are required to complete an application form (click on the Tutor tab) and attend this 6 hour training held at the County Library Administration Building in Fremont.

Tutors are also required to attend a tutor roundtable and a series of in-service workshops to expand their tutoring knowledge and share their experiences with other tutors. The minimum commitment is for 6 months of tutoring and 10 hours of training. Tutors must be 18 years or older.

If you are interested in tutoring, please complete a tutor application and return. or contact us directly. You can make a difference. Become a volunteer tutor.

Write to Read Adult Literacy Program (510) 745-1480

SIGN UP NOW FOR READING CLUBS

The Fall 2010 reading club groups are starting on Monday, September 13 in Fremont (including Centerville), Newark, Union City, Castro Valley, Dublin and Albany. Sign up first to attend these popular conversation groups. Meet new friends and practice together your pronunciation, vocabulary, comprehension and writing between September 13 and December 10. All reading clubs are free.

Call Rachel at (510) 745-1480