2009-2010 Illinois State Budget
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The Illinois State budget remains in limbo. The 2010 fiscal year began on July 1, 2009 without passage of a comprehensive budget. Governor Quinn immediately vetoed the so called 50 percent budget that would have provided only enough spending authority to operate state government at half of the governor's proposed 2010 budget. The Illinois General Assembly returns to Springfield on July 14 to once again consider an annual spending plan and a possible income tax increase. However, it is unlikely an income tax increase will be approved in the near future, and the budget stalemate many continue for weeks or perhaps even months.
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ARRA and Broadband in Illinois
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In 1998, the Illinois Library Association was an early supporter of the Illinois Century Network (ICN) and worked for the passage of House Bill 2088, creating a robust broadband network for its schools, libraries, health care, government, and other public service organizations. The Illinois Century Network became a reality in June 1999 when Illinois Governor George H. Ryan signed House Bill 2088 (Public Act 91-0021) officially creating the network.
Today, broadband expansion is still at the forefront of the national and state agenda. President Barack Obama has acknowledged that broadband has the potential to revolutionize the world economy by providing new market opportunities. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) sets aside more than $4.7B for the expansion of broadband networks. ICN has applied for stimulus dollars to migrate the backbone network to state owned fiber. The result will be a network capable of proving more than ten times the amount of the current bandwidth at the same or lower operating cost. Both Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Lavin support broadband expansion and especially the Illinois Century Network.
ALA Washington Office continually emphasizes to think BIG regarding broadband initiatives. For example, the project should be bigger than the largest institution in your state -- Chicago Public Library or University of Illinois. The ICN plan is thinking big and ILA will continue to work support ICN by advocating for its operating and capital budgets. ILA believes its success in obtaining ARRA and state operating funds will have a significant positive beneficial for Illinois libraries.
The biggest problem again is the state's unknown 2010 fiscal year budget. Yesterday's newspapers reported that the governor vetoed another component of the state budget and told
state lawmakers he expects deeper cuts, among them nearly 2,600 layoffs
including more than 1,000 in the state prison system, though the
initial 500 cuts wouldn't come until Sept. 30.
ILA will continue to monitor this confusing and depressing state budget debate, will inform the Illinois library community of significant developments, and will continue to advocate for library issues in these Springfield budget debates/discussions.
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| 2009 August ILA Reporter on ILA Web Site
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Check out the latest issue with articles on:
Collaboration and Partnerships
by Jannette LaRoche
Top Eleven Marketing Tips for Collaboration and Partnerships
by Peggy L. Barry
 2010 iREAD Illustrator Jill Thompson
by Jill Donovan
Books Challenged or Banned in 2008-2009
by Robert P. Doyle
Working within the Spectrum: Employees with Asperger Syndrome in Our Library
by Meg Miner
Dear Elsie
by Richard A. Stewart
Some Newer Spaces for Great Library Service: Achievements of Library
Leaders and Staff
by Allen Lanham
My Turn -- Cookies, Courage, and Collaboration
by Jennifer Christiansen
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In the News |
Some Parents Seek to Ban 'The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian'
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Wauconda Library Unveils Memorial for Woman Killed in Iraq
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Plainfield Library Cutting Expenses To continue reading about this story, click here.
Frugal Readers Drive up Chicago Public Library Circulation 30%
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Des Plaines City Officials Urge Library Board to Curb Spending
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Gail Borden Bans Trustee from Library
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Ex-director Cites Gail Borden Library Trustee's Past Behavior To continue reading about this story, click here.
Oak Brook Could Privatize Library as a 'Last Resort'
To continue reading about this story, click here.
In Web Age, Libraries as Important as Ever
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Rockford Mayor Seeks End to Library Pension Payments
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Dundee Twp. Library Ready to Renovate
To continue reading about this story, click here.
Bathroom Bather Gets Banished
for Park Ridge Library
To continue reading about this story, click here.
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Sincerely,
Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association |
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Disclaimer: Links to non-ILA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. The Illinois Library Association does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ILA does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.
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