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State Biennial Budget Process 2025-2027
WLA members promote State Library Aid Priorities
Background
Governor Tony Evers delivered his executive budget proposal to a joint session of the legislature on
February 18, where it became SB45/AB50 and was immediately assigned to the legislature’s
powerful Joint Finance Committee (JFC). The JFC consists of 8 senators and 8 assembly representatives
(12 Republicans and 4 Democrats, reflecting the majority in both houses). It serves as the principal
legislative committee charged with the review of all state appropriations and revenues. JFC co-chairs
have announced their intention to use the 2023-2025 budget framework as a starting point rather than the
Governor’s proposal.
CLICK HERE for list 2025-2027 JFC members and the libraries in their districts.
WLA members play a prominent role in advocating for state library funding. A WLA Library Development; Legislation (LD&L) Committee budget team began meeting with legislative leaders and JFC members
after the current legislative session commenced on January 6, 2025.
A record number of attendees at Library Legislative Day on February 11 were encouraged to share
stories illustrating how state library aid enables crucial library system infrastructure, shared data bases,
inter-loan coordination and other support for local library programs and services. Emphasis was placed
on the ways in which the library system aid increase approved in 2023 for the current budget has made a
positive contribution to the lives of the constituents we share with legislators.
WLA budget documents support a $2 million increase to public library system aid in the first year of the
2025-2027 biennium and an additional $4 million in the second year. WLA also supports a modest cost-to-
continue increases for core library services including BadgerLink and Newsline for the Blind, as well as
state resource contracts for Auto-Graphics, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, Wisconsin Talking
Book and Braille Library, and inter-library loan access to Milwaukee Public Library and UW-Madison
collections.
Joint Finance Committee Public Hearings
On March 18, the JFC announced dates and locations for four public budget hearings at which committee
members will hear citizen testimony during marathon sessions from 10 AM to 5 PM. Attendees will be
asked to fill out a form upon arrival to register in favor of state library aid.
Can't attend in person? Written comments in support of state library aid can be posted to the full
committee through an online portal. The JFC has also developed a dedicated email address for input only
from which all emails will be circulated to the full committee; [email protected]
The LD&L members listed below as site captains will coordinate colleague recruitment and messaging,
provide more detailed orientation, and select one or two speakers for each city on the JFC hearing list.
Wisconsin librarians, trustees, and other allies are invited to literally stand up for libraries in a group
behind the designated colleagues who will deliver 5 minutes of testimony time.
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