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
Friday, January 22, 2010
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
GOP candidates and local officials should unite!
I strongly recommend that everyone actually reads this bulletin.
http://www.masstaxpayers.org/files/State%20fiscal%20crisis%20bulletin%20with%20header.pdf
Republican candidates for Legislature and Governor should wave this bulletin high in the air to show how the Democrats have mishandled the budget for the last few years. They should also be touting the examples of how state spending could be cut to solve this gap.
Many GOP reform recommendations were ignored last year. Bring them back on the campaign trail as a way to close this gap so voters have a choice between reform and revenue.
Local officials need to push reforms at the state level too. If we sit back and let the MTF, Mass. Municipal Association and the Mass. Teachers Association lead the charge, we will be left with more "local option taxes" and calls for higher taxes at the local (via overrides) and state level to save jobs!
The claims of massive job cuts at the local level will be a reality if there is not a push for wage freezes and state spending reform.
The fiscal crisis can't be ignored any longer. This bulletin is a nice outline of the situation. We know there will be plenty of calls for new taxes, but who will be out there offering alternative options to reduce the level of expense growth?
http://www.masstaxpayers.org/files/State%20fiscal%20crisis%20bulletin%20with%20header.pdf
Republican candidates for Legislature and Governor should wave this bulletin high in the air to show how the Democrats have mishandled the budget for the last few years. They should also be touting the examples of how state spending could be cut to solve this gap.
Many GOP reform recommendations were ignored last year. Bring them back on the campaign trail as a way to close this gap so voters have a choice between reform and revenue.
Local officials need to push reforms at the state level too. If we sit back and let the MTF, Mass. Municipal Association and the Mass. Teachers Association lead the charge, we will be left with more "local option taxes" and calls for higher taxes at the local (via overrides) and state level to save jobs!
The claims of massive job cuts at the local level will be a reality if there is not a push for wage freezes and state spending reform.
The fiscal crisis can't be ignored any longer. This bulletin is a nice outline of the situation. We know there will be plenty of calls for new taxes, but who will be out there offering alternative options to reduce the level of expense growth?
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