Municipalites being left in the dark

Local officials and residents in Massachusetts know that a cut in local aid is coming. The legislature should buckle down and figure out how much local aid will be cut next year so that cities and towns could understand the impact to services and plan accordingly.

Instead, the leadership on Beacon Hill has decided to wait. They are not waiting because there is some significant "game-changing" variable to be concluded. No, they just want to deliver the bad news at the last possible moment. In some cases, after town elections (when override questions would appear on a ballot) and annual town meetings (where town budgets are voted).

Local officials are trying to do their job by making the tough choices. It would be nice if the leadership on Beacon Hill would at least tell us what they already know.

Massachusetts House prepares local aid cut - Beverly, MA - Beverly Citizen

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Local Aid as a priority

As we face another bad fiscal year, everyone is asked to establish their priorities. I believe that local aid should be a top priority for those building the MA state budget.

In order to maintain proportional (to property taxes) funding to cities and towns, local aid should increase at 3% per year. In years where total revenue doesn't increase 3% at the state level local aid should be increased by the percentage increase in revenue.

The 3% would match the annual increase in Property tax revenue municipalities can expect from Prop 2 1/2 + some property growth. Without a commitment to local aid, municipalites can not begin to engage in multi-year planning.

Focusing on online learning - Millis, MA

Here is a nice example of how school districts are expanding the use of technology in the classroom. This program is being utilized by a number of schools in our region. On-line learning and distance learning are two methods that will allow schools to offer more options to our students through collaboration.


Focusing on online learning - Millis, MA - Wicked Local Millis

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Governor Level Funds Local Aid

The Governor has proposed to level-fund Ch. 70 (education) and local aid. I say level-fund because that is what is really happening. The "increase" to education funding that will be touted by the administration is not completely accurate. The "increase" is really just a result of shifting the funds from the Federal budget (via Stimulus money) to the State budget.

While I am encouraged by the governor's attempt, I am extremely skeptical about this being possible. Given the shortfall projected in the state's overall budget I will be interested to see what services have been cut to accomodate the increase.

Those who are harmed in the Governor's budget will spend a lot of time lobbying the legislature to restore those cuts...at the expense of local aid.

Let the roller coaster ride that is the state budget process begin.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/01/patrick_propose_1.html