Ohio public libraries are facing a significant reduction in state funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 due to changes in the state budget bill (HB 96), signed into law by Governor DeWine in July 2025. Ohio’s fiscal year runs July to June—we are now operating in fiscal year 2026 and experiencing the loss of funds.
In this budget, the funding mechanism for the Public Library Fund (PLF) was changed from a guaranteed 1.7% of the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) to a fixed line-item appropriation. This change makes library funding vulnerable to budget cuts, eliminating the previous, stable, percentage-based system.
Ohio reduced the amount available for public libraries in fiscal year 2026 by more than $25 million. The new appropriation includes an annual transfer of over $10 million to support other library-related state entities like the State Library of Ohio and the Ohio Public Library Information Network, who previously received their own line-item appropriations. These transfers are made before funds are distributed to local public libraries, further reducing the net amount available to local systems like ours. Locally, Portage County library funds decreased by nearly $600 thousand and Reed Memorial Library has lost $200 thousand in the current fiscal year.
With these funding changes, state legislators have effectively shifted more financial responsibility to local communities and voters. In communities that value their library, you would suppose the funding changes would result in more effective local support. But proposed changes to local levy rules are expected to have a significant negative impact on public libraries, too.
A bill currently in the Ohio House (HB 137, as of November 2025) would allow county or local taxing authorities to reject a library’s request to place an operating levy on the ballot. Previously, libraries had more autonomy in this process. This change means local elected officials could prevent voters from deciding on library funding issues, regardless of community support. Reed Memorial Library relies on a five-year renewable operating levy that accounts for another 43% of its annual budget.
As if denying levies isn’t enough, Ohio House Bills 309 and 335 (HB309/HB335) would grant full authority to the County Budget Commission to suspend, reduce, and question the need for all property tax revenue. This revenue includes inside millage, outside voted levies, emergency levies, bond levies, etc. In short, although local voters may vote and approve a levy, the state would give local commissions the power to reject that vote and decide that they won’t collect levy funds. Ohio is a local-control state, but the changes being proposed disenfranchise and undermine the rights of local voters in their own community. Furthermore, neither the County, nor any local taxing authority funds public libraries. Voters fund public libraries.
Most Ohio public libraries have only two major sources of revenue – state funding and local property tax levies. Changes to this funding structure will have a significant impact on the services that we provide. Libraries across the state are being forced to adjust their budgets and make difficult funding decisions.
Reed Memorial receives 49% of our annual operating budget from the state. We have responded to the state cuts by renegotiating contracted and subscription services and leaving vacant positions unfilled for now. Additional cuts may be needed in the future as we strive to maintain our current level of programming and library services. Further declines in funding could jeopardize vital services that our community relies on, although, we are doing everything in our power to make sure that does not happen.
Our Library is committed to the residents of the City of Ravenna, Ravenna Township, and the greater Portage County area. We will continue finding ways to cut costs where we can, planning for further changes and an uncertain future. We will also keep you updated on the progress of state and local funding changes and initiatives directly affecting libraries.
If you want to show your support for Ohio’s public libraries, please reach out to your local state representatives and let them know what your library means to you and the community. You can also support us by joining and/or contributing to the Reed Memorial Foundation and the Friends of Reed Memorial Library.
Sincerely, Cornelius 