March 6, 2012 is "Super Tuesday". The day many states (including Massachusetts) in the country will hold their presidential primary.
It is also the day that the Republican and Democrat party in MA elects their State Committee. The State Committee is the "Board of Directors" for their state party. The State Committee elects the party chairman, develops the party platform, and guide the party finances in a method that it deems most appropriate to elect Republicans in Massachusetts. There are 2 representatives (one man & one woman) elected from each of the 40 state senate districts.
I am a candidate for MA GOP State Commiteeman for the Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District. The district is made up of Wayland, Sherborn, Millis, Norfolk, Wrentham, Plainville, North Attleboro, Natick (Precincts 6,7,9,10), Wellesley (Pct. B,F,G), Franklin (Pct. 1,2,3,4,7), Attleboro (Pct. 1,2,3A), and Needham (Pct. A,B,C,I,J).
I'm running because I believe we need a local perspective on the state committee. If we are going to grow the "farm team", we need people who will focus on supporting town committees and "down ticket" candidates. And, after 12+ years of experience supporting Republican candidates at the local and state legislative level (as well as 8 years as a local government official), I know I will bring that local voice to the MA GOP State Commitee.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Local Communities losing "Stimulus" gamble
In this first week of 2011, the political world is focused on the federal and state level inaugurations. Those of us at the local level, however, are getting our first view of significant projected budget shortfalls for next year.
On Monday night, I presented a financial projection for my town with a budget shortfall ranging from $1.2M - $1.5M in order to maintain a level-staff budget next year. The exact size of the shortfall will be determined by how much of a cut in local aid Millis is subjected to in the final state budget.
Tuesday morning, I see this article about Natick's beginning to 2011:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/newsnow/x224241661/Natick-facing-budget-gap-of-more-than-4M
Later Tuesday, while talking to a co-worker who lives in Wellesley, I find that they are also facing a significant shortfall. A shortfall that could mean scaling back the music an art programs in that district.
Yet, this reality is not unexpected. Many of us have been expecting it in each of the last 3 years...only to be bailed out by the Federal government "stimulus" bills each year. The idea behind the stimulus funds were to save jobs (no new jobs were created) until the economy turned around. A recovered economy would then allow the government to replace these funds with tax collections. This was a gamble that did not pay. The national and state economies have not fully recovered.
More importantly, however, there has been little done at the state or federal level to slow the rate of healthcare costs, nor any significant reforms to the public pension system. These two costs have absorbed all of the revenue generated by the slight economic recovery. The lack of reform at the state level trickles down to higher costs at the local level.
In response to these higher costs, local officials have engaged public unions to request re-open existing collective bargaining agreements, taking harder stances on costs of new contracts...and make cuts to the most basic public services.
As we move into this new year there appears to be no more stimulus money, higher health and pension costs, and no real reforms. The result is municipalities being left paying off the cost of this failed gamble.
On Monday night, I presented a financial projection for my town with a budget shortfall ranging from $1.2M - $1.5M in order to maintain a level-staff budget next year. The exact size of the shortfall will be determined by how much of a cut in local aid Millis is subjected to in the final state budget.
Tuesday morning, I see this article about Natick's beginning to 2011:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/newsnow/x224241661/Natick-facing-budget-gap-of-more-than-4M
Later Tuesday, while talking to a co-worker who lives in Wellesley, I find that they are also facing a significant shortfall. A shortfall that could mean scaling back the music an art programs in that district.
Yet, this reality is not unexpected. Many of us have been expecting it in each of the last 3 years...only to be bailed out by the Federal government "stimulus" bills each year. The idea behind the stimulus funds were to save jobs (no new jobs were created) until the economy turned around. A recovered economy would then allow the government to replace these funds with tax collections. This was a gamble that did not pay. The national and state economies have not fully recovered.
More importantly, however, there has been little done at the state or federal level to slow the rate of healthcare costs, nor any significant reforms to the public pension system. These two costs have absorbed all of the revenue generated by the slight economic recovery. The lack of reform at the state level trickles down to higher costs at the local level.
In response to these higher costs, local officials have engaged public unions to request re-open existing collective bargaining agreements, taking harder stances on costs of new contracts...and make cuts to the most basic public services.
As we move into this new year there appears to be no more stimulus money, higher health and pension costs, and no real reforms. The result is municipalities being left paying off the cost of this failed gamble.
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