MLA Advocacy News

Take Five Minutes Today to Build a Relationship With Your Legislators

Being a good library advocate means that you must first build good relationships and the first step to building a good relationship with your Michigan legislators is introducing yourself!

Governor Whitmer’s Budget Recommendation

On February 8, Governor Gretchen Whitmer released her fifth executive budget recommendation of $79 Billion that “will lower costs, grow Michigan’s economy, and build a brighter future for anyone who wants to call Michigan home.” The Governor and State Budget Director Christopher Harkins outlined the proposal to a joint session of the Senate and House Appropriations committees.

Michigan’s Budget Process Begins

The good news and the bad news at January’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference.

Michigan’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) took place on Friday, January 13, 2023. The CREC meets in January and May of every year and brings together the state’s leading economists to discuss the national and state economic outlook, and issue revenue forecasts that help inform state policymakers ahead of the state budget process. The budget process is expected to formally begin in early February when Governor Whitmer releases her Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Executive Budget Recommendation. View the full CREC report (pdf).

State Aid to Public Libraries

In 1977, the State Aid to Public Libraries Act (Act 89 of 1977) was enacted and funding for public libraries and cooperatives was set at $0.50/capita. Based on the rate of inflation, $0.50/capita in 1977 would be equivalent to approximately $2.50/capita in 2023. It took 46 years to reach only $0.50/capita. It is now long past time to increase the state's financial investment to keep our 397 public library systems viable and strong in each of our Michigan communities.