Indiana bill could slash library budgets with unlimited cuts, increased oversight

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A senate bill in Indiana could affect library budgets across the state.

Senate Bill 8, authored by southern Indiana Senators Chris Garten and Gary Byrne, aims to improve the oversight of library budgets.

The county, city or town councils of each library would have to review and approve the budget if the library proposes an increase of 2% or more.

Right now, each library has its own fiscal body that approves the budget. That group of people can only reduce the proposed budget by 10%, but this new bill removes that cap meaning there won't be a limit on budget cuts.

"You can either take less than everyone else is receiving or you can go to your fiscal body and ask of them to increase your amount. The dangerous thing about that is there's nothing that prevents your fiscal body from just saying 'you don't need a budget at all' so there's unlimited cuts they can take from your budget," Jeffersonville Township Public Library Director David Seckman said.

WDRB asked Senators Garten and Byrne for interviews. Byrne's office sent us a news release where Byrne said, "Public libraries serve as a vital resource in our communities, which is why their budgets should be reviewed by elected officials. Senate Bill 8 would make sure the people's voices are heard in how their tax dollars are spent."

"It almost seems like they're trying to punish libraries, but I'm not sure why," Seckman said.

Seckman adds they've already taken a hit from Senate Bill 1 that went into effect in 2025. That bill affects property taxes in Indiana which is where libraries get the majority of funding.

"This year losing over $100,000 of our budget, but by year three we're projected to lose $300,000 almost $350,000 out of our budget," Seckman said.

The Floyd County Library is seeing those cuts, too.

"We are planning for about a difference of $800,000 in our budget in 2026 versus 2025," Assistant Director of Operations Aaron Williams said.

Now, they're bracing for even more.

"The cuts are going to get deeper and on top of other cuts that have happened at the state library, which have trickled down to local libraries, it's a lot all at once," Williams said. "I think we're really battling for the future of public libraries here in the state of Indiana."

The bill has passed through the Senate and is now sitting in the House Ways and Means Committee.

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