(Middletown, NY)- State Senator John J. Bonacic (R/C/I-Mt. Hope) is pleased to announce that he successfully advocated for the inclusion of $95 million in overall funding for public libraries across the state in this year’s budget. That includes a restoration of $4 million in funding cuts that had ben proposed in the Governor’s original budget proposal.

In addition, the newly enacted state budget includes $24 million in capital funding for important library capital improvement projects and facility upgrades. This includes a restoration of $5 million in capital cuts that the Governor had originally proposed, as well as an additional $5 million on top of last year’s level of funding.

“For many communities in my senate district, local libraries play a critically important role as centers of learning, culture and civic activity,” said Senator Bonacic. “My colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference understand the importance that libraries play for people, and that’s why we worked to restore the cuts that the Governor had proposed.”