Good news travels slow

Its the everyday efforts and good deeds that don't make the news reports or papers. In the last 12 hours I've heard about two communities that have given their time and money to help further the educational opportunities of their kids.

I came home yesterday to see a note in my daughter's kindergarten folder. It was a short newsletter sent out by the Home & School Association (H&SA). The H&SA is a private non-profit group that raises money to supplement the budget of the elementary school in Millis, MA. The newletter gave information about future events and meetings, but it also reported how successful the fall fundraising drive was. Over $10,000 profit was made in the annual holiday gift sale project. This is $10,000 of private money donated to public education in a small (8,000 residents) middle class town.

The second example was found this morning when I noticed a facebook post from my friend Eric Dahlberg in Chelmsford, MA. It was the link to an article about an "adult spelling bee" that was hosted by the Chelmsford Educational Fund. Same type of organization and the HS&A, just different name. While the article didn't tell how much was raised, it was just another example of how, when given the chance, people will help.

I know this is not completely unique. Many (if not all) school communities have some version of a Parent/Teacher Association (PTA). In fact, I can remember doing fundraising for my elementary school in Troy, NY...so that is not new either.

It would just be nice to see more reports about the willingess of people to spend their own money to help our kids get a better education. Too often we just see articles about people who oppose tax increases that will "benefit schools". Funny thing is, most of the time they are talking about the same exact people!

State will pass most of the buck to Cities/Towns

State budget gap could grow from bad to worse - Milford, MA - The Milford Daily News

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The more open about it they are the more of a guarantee it is...

Elected officials always down-play bad news.

• If they say "its not an option right now"...that means its possible.
• If they say "its possible"...its probable.
• If they say "its likely"...its definite!

State Rep. John Fernandes, D-Milford, said current-year budget cuts are inevitable, and warns communities to take care on discretionary spending.

"Local officials need to be cautious in budgeting, and how they handle their financing, because there is so little funding," said Fernandes.

State officials are admitting there is no more rainy day funs or federal stimulus money. They are saying that local aid cuts are likely, so they're definite. Oh, the state says they'll make cuts too.

I'm sure it will be the same across the board, non-targeted, degree of cuts that will only ensure higher inefficiencies (see RMV wait times). What needs to be done are specific reductions that improve the efficiency in state government. There also needs to be a review of the purpose and necessity for all state agencies. Those that are no longer needed or are unsuccessful should be eliminated.

We don't need all state employees to share equally, we need the state beuracracy to be steam-lined.

Until this happens, local governments should not be left holding the bag.

Municipalities will have to make tough choices

Scaling The Hill: September Revenues in Free-Fall

It appears the state of Massachusetts is once again in the early stages of a budget crisis. And the cities and towns of the Commonwealth will be left holding the bag.

A year ago at this time, tax revenues (it was capital gains taxes last year) were missing estimates and the politicians on Beacon Hill began searching for any extra money.

Well, they found some. Most of it came from our newly elected President, and the rest came from rainy day funds that were not going to be replaced. That was last year...

Here we are, a quarter of the way through FY10, and revenues are missing expectations again. This year its the JUST INCREASED sales tax that is falling short. Ok, so let's just go back to the well...only problem is that the wells are dry! The "rainy day" funds were virtually depleted in order to balance the current budget and there doesn't appear to be another "Stimulus Package" coming from Governor Patrick's good pal in D.C.

What does this mean? If the sales tax increase isn't generating the necessary funds for THIS YEAR, how is it also going to make up for the Stimulus Funds AND Rainy Day funds that will need to be covered in FY11.

Answer: Tax increases or Shifting the burden to cities and towns

Given that we are in an election year, I would expect it to be the latter of the two. Meaning, the state will shift an even larger portion of the expense burden to the 351 municipal governments in Massachussetts. The burden will be shifted most obviously through cuts to local aid. However, it will also be shifted through state-mandated increases to certain categories of expenses.

Given the current revenue trends at the state level, I believe that all mandated expense formulas (such as the "foundation level" for education) should be reduced to the FY09 levels. This will ensure that the state can maintain its proportional obligation to cities and towns. Until the state can keep up with its responsibility to the municipalities, there should be no expense increases mandated from Beacon Hill.

In lieu of this adjustment to mandated expense levels, municipalities will be forced to either cut positions beyond safe levels. That is unless, residents vote to increase their property taxes in excess of the Prop 2 1/2 limit (yes...OVERRIDES!).