"House cuts in local aid may hit 5%" by Jim O’Sullivan, State House News Service | March 10, 2010
House leaders prepared members in a closed session yesterday for a politically unpleasant effort to reduce state aid to cities and towns....
You can imagine how we are feeling out here.
A 5 percent cut, which Democratic officials called the steepest under consideration, would bring the Chapter 70 account to over $3.8 billion and likely force layoffs and program cuts across the state.
Related: The Massachusetts State Budget
Just thought you would like to know where they tax money is coming from, where it is going, and why you can't have any, Bay-Stater.
The budget proposal Governor Deval Patrick released in January contained no cuts to the largest local aid account, worth over $4.04 billion, but legislative Democrats have said they will ignore Patrick’s requests for new taxes and have questioned his use of federal assistance not yet authorized by Congress....
Oh, shell games with the finances?
--more--"
House knife is getting closer:
"Lawmakers again warn of cuts in aid to localities" by Associated Press | March 12, 2010
The Massachusetts House and Senate leaders want cities and towns to know that a cut is coming in local aid.
Governor Deval Patrick drafted a budget for the next fiscal year that seeks largely to preserve state funding for schools and municipal services such as police and fire.
But legislative leaders say his plan counts too heavily on federal stimulus money and draws too deeply on the state’s rainy day account, so they have decided that the budget plans they will adopt for fiscal 2011, which begins July 1, will cut aid this year to avoid an even larger wallop next year.
“We don’t have the money, we don’t have the resources...., ’’ said Senate President Therese Murray....
Well, I know where you can GET that $$$.
Related: That's a Wrap, Plymouth!
Supportive of the Hollywood heist?
But "we" don't have the money?
--more--"
So how much of a chunk is going to get cut?
"State may cut $200m from local aid; Could result in more layoffs" by Eric Moskowitz, Globe Staff | March 13, 2010
Legislative leaders told cities and towns yesterday to brace for a cut of up to 4 percent in local aid next year, a combined hit of up to $200 million to the money communities rely on to balance budgets and keep teachers, police officers, and firefighters employed.
That is ALMOST as MUCH as we are GIVING AWAY to HOLLYWOOD!!
The announcement by House and Senate leaders could mean further layoffs and service cuts across the state starting this summer, and it sets up a political fight with Governor Deval Patrick, who sought to avoid those cuts in the budget plan he released in January.
This after they said THAT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY after the SALES TAX HIKE because we would be SAVING SERVICES!!
Yeah, GOVERNMENT and the Glob LIED TO YOU AGAIN, readers.
Lawmakers say Patrick’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2011 draws too heavily on federal stimulus money and rainy-day savings. Patrick also proposed raising taxes on candy, soft drinks, and tobacco, a plan House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray have said they oppose.
Related: Patrick's Pitfalls
He just stepped in another one!
The announcement comes weeks before lawmakers will release their versions of the budget for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. Beacon Hill leaders said they wanted to give early notice to cities and towns as they form their own spending plans. Lawmakers and Patrick will probably finalize the state budget in June.
Legislative leaders framed yesterday’s warning as a courtesy in a difficult year, calling the proposed cut modest amid painful circumstances. But municipal leaders called it a devastating blow, saying it could bring widespread layoffs....
From prerecession promises two years ago to current budget levels, state lawmakers have reduced local aid by $724 million, or about 12 percent, said Geoffrey C. Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
WHERE are ALL the INCREASED TAXES GOING, dear readers?
That has forced cities and towns to lay off thousands and to become more reliant on the property tax than at any point in the 30 years since the Proposition 2 1/2 tax cap passed, Beckwith said.
That is the only thing they know how to do here. Raise taxes.
“Cities and towns and local aid have taken more than their fair share of cuts, and communities are struggling out there to provide services that are important to our economic recovery,’’ Beckwith said.
But we have plenty of money for banks, well-connected, agenda-pushing interests, etc, etc.
Local officials are urging lawmakers to uphold the funding levels Patrick proposed and to give communities more power to balance their budgets, such as the authority to redesign employee health insurance plans without union approval, a power the state has with its own contracts, and which Beckwith estimated would save $100 million.
See: The Massachusetts Model: Mayors Make Lawmakers Mad
Sure the campaign kickbacks, 'er, contributions are not coloring your view, "public servants?"
Senator Steven C. Panagiotakos, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, and House Ways and Means chairman, Representative Charles A. Murphy, a Burlington Democrat, said communities are not suffering disproportionately.
“We understand the significance of it and the outcomes across the Commonwealth,’’ said Murphy. “But at the same time, we’re mindful of the other responsibilities we have as lawmakers to balance the budget and to address the other thousands of line items.’’
Like interest payments to banks to the tune of $70 million a MONTH!
Mayor Lisa A. Wong of Fitchburg said the cut could swell a projected $2.5 million shortfall for the coming year in her city to $4 million. Balancing this year’s budget has already meant cutting personnel and services, including reducing the library’s schedule from seven to three days a week.
Related: Boston Libraries Go Quiet
Communities that are most reliant on state aid, working-class cities that lack property wealth and a large commercial tax base, would be hit hardest by this cut, Wong said.
What, the poor getting the ass end of the stick again?
In liberal, compassionate, egalitarian Massachusetts?
“If the state is going to impose limits on how municipalities can generate revenue, and make cities and towns reliant on the state for funding, then the state needs to be equitable in the actual impact of their decisions,’’ Wong said. “Cutting everybody equally based on the same percentage is actually one of the most inequitable things the state could do.’’
You expected fairness out of the state?
