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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Picraux
DATE TYPED 2/2/05
HB 185
SHORT TITLE Public Library Funding
SB
ANALYST Hadwiger
APPROPRIATION
(in $000s)
Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY05
FY06
FY05
FY06
$1,250.0
Non-Recurring General Fund
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
Relates to existing Cultural Affairs Department appropriation of $350 thousand for aid to public
libraries.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
Responses Received From
Cultural Affairs Department (DCA)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Bill 185 would appropriate $1,250,000 from the general fund to the Cultural Affairs De-
partment for grants-in-aid to public libraries.
Significant Issues
The current annual appropriation of $350,000 has remained static over the past three years. Ac-
cording to the Cultural Affairs Department (DCA), the number of books, electronic databases,
and other library materials has dramatically increased – e.g., 5,118 fiction titles were published
in 2003, an increase of 935; 6,217 juvenile titles were published in 2001, versus 8,790 in 2003,
and increase of 25,513. Also, the population served by New Mexico’s public libraries has in-
creased by 300,000 according to the 2000 Decennial Census. With static or declining local book
budgets and funds obtained from a static State Aid Program, libraries are finding it increasingly
difficult to maintain currency.