CHEYENNE - House members resisted an effort Monday to trim almost $2 million from a bill to help create an endowment for county libraries.

Senate File 29 started out with an earmark of $25.3 million, but the Senate trimmed it to $7.3 million. It also tacked on $1.8 million in the primary budget bill for the endowment.

Some lawmakers argued that since the $1.8 million now exists in the budget bill, it can be removed from SF 29. The House refused the cut and passed the bill on first reading.

"Libraries are the heart and soul of Wyoming's small communities," said Rep. George Bagby, D-Rawlins. "Let's keep the heart beating."

The library endowment would allow the state's 23 county libraries to receive matching funds for locally raised dollars, with poorer counties receiving the most support.

The wealthiest counties - Campbell, Sublette, Sweetwater, Fremont, Natrona and Teton - would receive a dollar-for-dollar state match on money they raise.

Counties with slightly less wealth - Johnson, Lincoln, Carbon, Uinta, Laramie, Park, Sheridan and Converse - would receive a 2-1 match.

The poorest counties - Big Horn, Hot Springs, Platte, Crook, Weston, Washakie, Goshen and Niobrara - would receive a 3-1 match from the state.

Rep. Frank Philp, R-Shoshoni, co-chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee, pressed the House to remove the $1.8 million. He noted that the Legislature has a limited number of dollars to spend this year, and said it would be wise to give the bill a "haircut," a term used in the Legislature to indicate a reduction of funding.

"That's more than a haircut," House Speaker Roy Cohee, R-Casper, said in response. "That's to the bone."

Bill Nelson, director of the Natrona County Library in Casper, said he was "tickled" by the House endorsement of SF 29 Monday. He said the funding would provide a "wonderful" beginning to a library endowment.

"Now it's up to the libraries to go out and show that we can create the matching funds," Nelson said.

The House also rejected an effort to change the funding formula.

Rep. Sue Wallis, R-Recluse, proposed an amendment that would have based the allocation of funds on the assessed valuations of the counties, rather than specifying the counties by name in the law.

Wallis noted that county wealth ranking frequently changes, and it makes more sense to used a flexible formula. The amendment died on a voice vote.

County libraries across the state fell on hard times when the economy crashed in the 1980s and '90s. The endowment, when fully funded, would provide a source of income if counties again struggle for funding, backers say.

The bill now moves to second reading in the House.

Reach capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or at {M3jared.miller@trib.com.