History of Municipal Appropriation Requirement Formulas

1890-1960

If the town's assessed valuation is $1million or over, the appropriation to the library must be at least $50. If the town's assessed valuation is $250,000 - $999,999, the appropriation must be at least $25. If the town's assessed valuation is less than $250,000, the appropriation must be at least $15. The municipal appropriation requirement does not apply to cities.

No waivers.
M.G.L. Ch.78, s.18. Repealed by Ch.429, s.5, Acts of 1960.

1961-FY1970

If the prior year's appropriation was less than the average of the preceding four years, the appropriation had to be at least $3 per capita.

No waivers.
M.G.L. Ch.78, s.19A as amended by Ch.760, Acts of 1960.

FY1971-FY1986

If the prior year's appropriation was less than the average of the preceding four years, the appropriation had to be at least $6 per capita.

No waivers.
M.G.L. Ch.78, s.19A as amended by Ch.636, Acts of 1970.

FY1987

The prior year's appropriation had to at least equal the average of the prior four years,
OR - the prior year's appropriation had to be at least the average of the prior three years plus 2.5%,
OR - the current year's appropriation had to be at least the average of the prior three years plus 2.5%.

No waivers.
Board of Library Commissioners, minutes, August 14, 1986, ("in as much as appropriations based on legislative initiatives in S. 1746 have been authorized without enactment of that legislation, the Board is presented with problems in implementation, and must make certain interpretive decisions regarding disbursement of these monies.")

FY1988-FY1991

The current year's appropriation had to be at least the average of the prior three years plus 2.5%.

10 waivers.
M.G.L. Ch.78, s.19A as amended by Ch.478, Acts of 1987.

FY1992-FY1993

The current year's appropriation had to be at least 95% of the average of the prior three years.

25 waivers.
M.G.L. Ch.78, s.19A as amended by Ch.138, Acts of 1991, Ch.133 Acts of 1992.