Mich. panel passes cut in aid to local libraries

WKAR Public Media

Published September 28, 2009 at 6:48 AM EDT

By AP

LANSING, MI – A conference committee in the Michigan Legislature has voted to cut state aid to local libraries by 40 percent.

The vote Sunday afternoon sets the stage for votes in the House and Senate when they return to work Tuesday. Lawmakers have until the end of the day Wednesday to erase a $2.8 billion shortfall or there may be a partial shutdown of state government.

Aid to local libraries would drop from $10 million to $6 million under a budget approved 5-1. The panel's Democratic chairman opposed the bill because of the library cut.

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