Category Archives: Financial

State budget

Posted on January 26, 2017 | Comments Off on State budget

The state budget starts with the Governor’s proposal, moves on to the House’s proposal, to the Senate’s proposal, and then finally a House-Senate reconciliation committee to iron out the differences.  The Governor has just filed his proposed budget, and he is keeping to his plan to have municipal aid track the percentage revenue increases.  The analysis of the Governor’s proposed budget that follows was provided to me by the Massachusetts Municipal Association.

MMA-2

 
 
 
 
 
January 25, 2017
GOV. BAKER FILES $40.5 BILLION FY 2018 BUDGET PROPOSAL

• UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID WOULD INCREASE BY $39.9 MILLION (3.9%)

• CHAPTER 70 AID WOULD INCREASE BY ONLY $91.4 MILLION (2%)

• MOST OTHER MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS LEVEL-FUNDED

 

Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Charlie Baker submitted a $40.5 billion fiscal 2018 state budget plan with the Legislature, proposing a spending blueprint that would increase overall state expenditures by 4.3 percent, as the new Administration seeks to close an ongoing structural budget deficit by restraining spending across the board and placing an estimated $98 million into the state’s rainy day fund. The budget relies on $95 million in one-time revenues.

As Gov. Baker pledged to local officials on Jan. 21 at the MMA’s Annual Meeting, his budget includes a $39.9 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, and $91.4 million more for Chapter 70 school aid. The Gov.’s proposal for Chapter 70 aid includes a minimum aid increase of $20-per- student, full funding of the foundation budget requirements, and continued implementation of the “target share” equity provisions. The foundation budget calculation would partially implement the Foundation Budget Review Commission’s recommendation to use a more realistic factor for the cost of employee health insurance in school systems.

Most other municipal and education aid accounts in the Governor’s budget proposal would remain at fiscal 2017 levels. This includes the special education circuit breaker, payments-in- lieu of taxes, regional school transportation, Shannon anti-gang grants, McKinney-Vento reimbursements and METCO funding.

The Governor would level-fund charter school reimbursements at $80.5 million, far below the amount necessary to fully fund the statutory formula that is designed to offset a portion of the amount that communities are required to transfer to charter schools. Level-funding this account would lead to the continued and growing diversion of Chapter 70 funds away from municipally operated school districts, and place greater strain on the districts that serve 96% of public school children.

 

• Click here to see the UGGA and Chapter 70 Aid amounts listed by community in the

Governor’s budget

 

• Click below to see the Division of Local Services preliminary fiscal 2018 Cherry Sheet

aid amounts for your community, based on the Governor’s proposed budget (you will

need to insert the name of your community in the field):

Municipal Aid

Regional School District Aid

 

• Click here to see DESE’s calculation of fiscal 2018 Chapter 70 aid and Net School

Spending requirements for your city, town, or regional school district, based on the

Governor’s proposed budget

 

UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID INCREASED BY $39.9 MILLION

In a major victory for cities and towns, House One (the Governor’s fiscal 2018 budget submission) would provide $1.062 billion for UGGA, a $39.9 million increase over current funding. This fulfills one of Gov. Baker’s major campaign promises to increase direct municipal aid by the same rate of growth as state tax revenues.

The $39.9 million would increase UGGA funding by 3.9 percent, the same rate of growth projected for state tax revenues. Every city and town would see their UGGA funding increase by this 3.9 percent growth rate.

CHAPTER 70 SCHOOL AID WOULD GO UP JUST 2 PERCENT

The Governor’s budget submission proposes a small 2 percent increase in Chapter 70 education aid of $91.4 million, providing every city, town and school district with a minimum increase of $20 per student. The Governor’s budget would continue to implement the target share provisions enacted in 2007. The overall Chapter 70 increase would be significantly smaller than in recent years. The Governor’s budget includes a partial reflection of one of the Foundation Budget Review Commission’s key recommendations, which is updating the foundation budget to reflect the cost of employee health insurance. But this adjustment in the foundation budget is not enough to increase aid to many districts. 237 cities and towns (74% of all operating districts) would only receive an increase of $20 per student under the Governor’s budget. This below-inflation increase is too low, and would force communities to reduce school programs or further shift funds from the municipal side of the budget.

Please ask your Legislators to support a funding increase for Chapter 70 school aid that ensures that all schools receive a suitable and appropriate increase in fiscal 2018, which the MMA believes should be at least $100 per student. The MMA also strongly supports implementation of all of the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission to update the Chapter 70 “foundation budget” minimum spending standards for special education and employee health insurance, and to add to the spending standard a measure of recognition for the cost of services for low-income, English Language Learner (ELL) and other students who would benefit from more intensive services. The Commission recommended phasing in the changes over a four-year period, a position the MMA supports as well. Increasing minimum aid and fixing the inadequacies in the foundation formula are essential.

It should also be noted that House One contains language that would continue to allow communities to count retiree health insurance toward their net school spending, but only if they have done so beginning when the school finance law first went into effect in 1994, or if they have previously voted to adopt the local-option provision in section 260 of the fiscal year 2015 general appropriations act to allow a phase-in of retiree health insurance costs in their net school spending calculation.

Further, House One would use the same methodology that was used in this year’s fiscal 2017 budget to estimate the number of low-income students used in the foundation budget calculation.

SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER UNDERFUNDED

The Governor’s budget would level-fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker program at $277 million. Because special education costs are expected to rise in fiscal 2018, this means that the Governor’s budget likely underfunds reimbursements by as much as $10 million. This is a vital account that every city, town and school district relies on to fund state-mandated services. The Legislature has intended to fully fund the program for the past five years, and the MMA will again be asking lawmakers to ensure full funding in fiscal 2018.

CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS LEVEL FUNDED AT $80.5 MILLION

As noted above, the Governor would level-fund charter school reimbursements at $80.5 million, far below the amount necessary to fully fund the statutory formula that was originally established to offset a portion of the funding that communities are required to transfer to charter schools. The fiscal 2017 funding level is $54 million BELOW what is necessary to fund the reimbursement formula that is written into state law, so it is clear that the shortfall will grow significantly in fiscal 2018. Even though the reimbursement formula is level-funded at $80.5 million, the Governor’s fiscal 2018 budget would INCREASE charter school assessments by $60 million. This would lead to the continued and growing diversion of Chapter 70 funds away from municipally operated school districts, and place greater strain on the districts that serve 96% of public school children. Solving the charter school funding problem must be a major priority during the budget debate.

REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENTS LEVEL FUNDED

Gov. Baker’s budget submission would level-fund regional transportation reimbursements at the $61 million amount. This will be a hardship for virtually all communities in regional districts. Reimbursements for transportation of out-of- district vocational students remains significantly underfunded at $250K. Increasing these accounts is a priority for cities and towns.

McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS LEVEL FUNDED

The Governor’s budget would level-fund reimbursements for the transportation of homeless students at $8.35 million. The impact of this funding level will vary from community-to- community depending on the number of homeless families that remain sheltered in local hotels and motels. The Administration has been successful in reducing the number of homeless students who are dislocated from their original district, but those communities that continue to provide transportation to many students may continue to see shortfalls.

PAYMENTS-IN- LIEU-OF- TAXES (PILOT) AND SHANNON GRANTS LEVEL FUNDED, AND LIBRARY AID UP $189K

The Governor’s budget would level fund PILOT payments at $26.77 million, Shannon anti-gang grants at $6 million, and fund library grant programs at $19.07 million (up $189K).

GOV. PROPOSES APPLYING HOTEL-MOTEL TAX TO AIRBNB AND OTHER SHORT-TERM RENTALS, BUT ONLY IF RENTED FOR 150 DAYS

House One includes an outside section that would subject Airbnb and other short-term rentals to the local room occupancy excise tax. However, this would only apply in cases where the property is rented for 150 days or more. The MMA strongly supports extending the room occupancy excise to ALL short-term rentals. The 150-day threshold would continue to shield almost all seasonal and short-term rentals from taxation, and would not close the loophole that exists now.

GOV. PROPOSES FUNDS TO BEGIN PROCESS OF HAVING DEP TAKE THE LEAD IN OVERSEEING FEDERAL STORMWATER PERMITS

The Governor’s budget proposes $1.4 million to begin the process of having the Department of Environmental Protection assume “delegated authority” from the U.S. EPA to oversee the NPDES Stormwater Permit process (also referred to as MS4 permits). The MMA supports having DEP as the lead agency for stormwater permits. The $1.4 million would fund 12 DEP staff positions to begin the transition to becoming the lead agency. Full funding would take approximately $4.7 million. The Governor will be filing separate legislation to allow DEP to petition the EPA for this authority.

 

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY AND CALL ON THEM TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR’S PROPOSAL TO INCREASE UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID BY $39.9 MILLION – THIS  INCREASE IS VITAL TO LOCAL BUDGETS IN EVERY CORNER OF MASSACHUSETTS

 

AND PLEASE ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO COMMIT TO INCREASING CHAPTER 70 EDUCATION AID, FIXING THE FLAWS IN CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING, AND FULLY FUNDING KEY MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS
 
Massachusetts Municipal Association
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Posted in Budgets, Financial, State, Uncategorized

ALS

Posted on January 18, 2017 | 4 comments

ambulance

Yesterday afternoon from 6-7 PM before the regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen there was a well attended session that was billed as a working meeting of the Board of Selectmen with Chief Kingsbury and Lieutenant Bennotti of the Medfield Fire Department to discuss the possible solutions for the town to the provision of Advanced Life Support (ALS) services to town residents. The MFD currently only provides intermediate basic life support (EMT) ambulance services to residents, and only one of the current seven full time firefighters is a paramedic.

One firefighter recently resigned, and will be replaced with a paramedic, however, until the whole service is staffed with paramedics, the two paramedics will not be able to provide paramedic services.

The ALS session was not covered by Medfield.TV – I do not know why not, as I was not involved in making that decision.  Personally, I would have put it on TV.

Basically the Chief and the Lieutenant

  • expect that the MFD will have increasing problems in the future staffing a call department,
  • expect the current towns providing the ALS intercept services (Westwood, Walpole, and Norfolk) as tiring of doing so if we are not making efforts to solve our situation,
  • see no likely chance of doing a regional ALS with other towns (Dover and Sherborn are the logical ones),
  • generally see no interest in current EMT’s becoming paramedics,
  • see the cost of using a private ALS provider as similar to the cost to expand the MFD (they have been quoted $600,000 per year, plus $250 per run by private providers), and
  • therefore that the best solution is for the town to hire eight new full time firefighter/paramedics at a cost of about $650,000 per year, plus start up costs.

Whether to hire the paramedics will be a decision for residents to make at at the annual town meeting (ATM).

Below are the Chief’s cost projections:

* lIJ) RAIF'f * ALS Paramedic Budget Proposal (Estimated) Based on hiring 8 Firefighter Paramedics (Step 4) 2184 hrs (42per wk x 52) x $25.62 = $55,954 per $55,954 x 8 = $447,632 Additional annual personnel costs: Medic Stipend - $6000 x 8 = $48,000 Vacation - 96hrs x 8 x $38.50 = $29,568 Sick Time- 72hrs x 8 x $38.50 = $22,176 Holidays -11x8 x 10.5 x $26.62 = $23,673 Personal Time-31.5hrs x 8 x $38.50 = $9702 Clothing - $600 x 8 = $4800 Cleaning - $3 00 x 8 = $2400 Town share health care - $50,000 Town share Medicare - $6500 Annual Estimated costs - $644,451 One time startup costs: Protective Clothing- 8 x $3200 = $25,600 Uniforms: - 8 x $600 - $4800 Medical Equip - $60,000 Estimated startup costs - $90,400 Year one estimate - $734,851 Annual Medical Control Fee $10,000 - Revolving Acct (pay $5000 now)

I suggest that these figures do not reflect the true cost to the town of the additional employees, as these estimates do not include the present value of the future retirement benefits the town will ultimately have to pay.  Those retirement benefits (i.e. pension and health care) are called Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB).  To truly tell us the cost, the estimates should include the present value of the actuarial costs we incur each year to pay future retirement benefits to such employees.

The town was only recently required to figure out the value of its OPEB liability. Currently the unfunded actuarial cost for the town’s OPEB is over $40m. OPEB costs currently cost the town about $1.5m. per year, and the town only just recently (a couple of years ago) started to budget $400,000 a year to pay into a trust fund to partially cover the future OPEB as they come due.  Therefore the town is still adding over $1m. a year to its OPEB liability, which is basically pushing off current town costs to be paid by future residents.

OPEB benefits to retired former town employees were until relatively recently not funded at all while those retirees were working, and even now the town is not fully funding its future OPEB liability.  As we add new town employees, we may want to include the OPEB liabilities in our cost estimates.

4 Comments

Posted in Budgets, Financial, Fire Department, Town Meeting, Uncategorized

Abby Marble and Tim Nugent join WC

Posted on October 3, 2016 | Comments Off on Abby Marble and Tim Nugent join WC

Town Moderator, Scott McDermott, today announced that he has appointed both Abby Marble and Tim Nugent to the Warrant Committee – see below.

20161003-smcd-medmod-warrant-committee-appointments-2016-2017_page_1October 3, 2016 Carol Mayer, Town Clerk Town of Medfield Medfield MA 02052 Re: FY 2017 Appointments to the Warrant Committee Dear Ms. Mayer: I am very pleased to confirm the FY 2017 appointments to the Warrant Committee of the Town of Medfield. I am honored to appoint Abby Marble of 16 Pheasant Road and Tim Nugent of 14 Longmeadow Road to the Warrant Committee for terms which shall expire in 2019. Abby and Tim will succeed Gregory Sullivan and Michael T. Marcucci who served with great distinction as members during their respective terms in office. I am also pleased to affirm the re-appointment of Martha Festa of 16 Quail Run for a new term which shall expire in 2019. Finally, I am pleased to report that the following six members of the Committee are continuing in the service of the Town of Medfield: Sharon Kingsley Tatro of 12 West Street [term expires 2017] Robert M. Skloff of 11 Wheelwright Road [term expires 2017] Barbara Gips of 25 Boyden Road [term expires 2017] John E. (Jack) Wolfe of 17 Harding Street [term expires 2018] Nikolaos Athanasiadis of 30 Quarry Road [term expires 2018] Thomas C. Marie of 72 Pine Street [term expires 2018] I will request that each new and re-appointed member contact you to arrange to take the oath of office at your earliest mutual convenience. As always, thank you for your consideration. Very truly yours, Scott F. McDermott Scott F. McDermott cc: Town Administrator Board of Selectman Warrant Committee TOWN OF MEDFIELD Scott F. McDermott Town Moderator FY 2017 Warrant Committee Barbara Gips of 25 Boyden Road [term expires 2017] Sharon Kingsley Tatro of 12 West Street [term expires 2017] Robert M. Skloff of 11 Wheelwright Road [term expires 2017] John E. (Jack) Wolfe of 17 Harding Street [term expires 2018] Nikolaos Athanasiadis of 30 Quarry Road [term expires 2018] Thomas C. Marie of 72 Pine Street [term expires 2018] Abby Marble of 16 Pheasant Road [term expires 2019] Tim Nugent of 14 Longmeadow Road [term expires 2019] Martha Festa of 16 Quail Run [term expires 2019] Martha Festa shall serve as Chairwoman of the committee. TOWN OF MEDFIELD Scott F. McDermott Town Moderator APPOINTMENTS TO THE MEDFIELD WARRANT COMMITTEE 2003-2016 In accordance with the Medfield Town Charter, the Moderator has the duty and privilege of appointing the members to the Warrant Committee. The Warrant Committee plays an exceptionally important role in the legislative, administrative, and financial activities of the Town of Medfield. The committee reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to the town meeting regarding all warrant articles including the annual town operating and capital budgets. The Warrant Committee further fulfills all the duties and responsibilities of a finance committee as stipulated in the Massachusetts General Laws. Medfield’s Warrant Committee has a proud and dedicated heritage of service to Medfield based upon collaborative deliberation, open dialogue, study and attention, and experience and insights. The following is a list of Warrant Committee members I have proudly appointed or re-appointed in my fourteen (14) terms as Medfield’s Moderator. I thank all of them for their special service and commitment. Nikolaos Athanasiadis Joanne Bragg Stephen S. Curran Edward P. Doherty Martha Festa David Fischer Mark Fisher Barbara Gips Richard E. Gordet Diane Hallisey Joanna Hilvert William Johnson Abby Marble Michael T. Marcucci Thomas C. Marie Robert Morrill Debbie Mozer Gustave H. Murby Tim Nugent Stephen Pelosi Randy Rogers Victoria Schepps Thomas J. Schlesinger James O’Shaughnessy James Shannon Robert M. Skloff Caroline Standley Catherine Steever Gregory Sullivan Sharon KinglseyTatro Maryalice Whalen Mary Wilson John (Jack) Wolfe TOWN OF MEDFIELD Scott F. McDermott Town Moderator Respectfully submitted: Scott F. McDermottAPPOINTMENTS TO THE MEDFIELD WARRANT COMMITTEE 2003-2016 In accordance with the Medfield Town Charter, the Moderator has the duty and privilege of appointing the members to the Warrant Committee. The Warrant Committee plays an exceptionally important role in the legislative, administrative, and financial activities of the Town of Medfield. The committee reviews, evaluates, and makes recommendations to the town meeting regarding all warrant articles including the annual town operating and capital budgets. The Warrant Committee further fulfills all the duties and responsibilities of a finance committee as stipulated in the Massachusetts General Laws. Medfield’s Warrant Committee has a proud and dedicated heritage of service to Medfield based upon collaborative deliberation, open dialogue, study and attention, and experience and insights. The following is a list of Warrant Committee members I have proudly appointed or re-appointed in my fourteen (14) terms as Medfield’s Moderator. I thank all of them for their special service and commitment. Nikolaos Athanasiadis Joanne Bragg Stephen S. Curran Edward P. Doherty Martha Festa David Fischer Mark Fisher Barbara Gips Richard E. Gordet Diane Hallisey Joanna Hilvert William Johnson Abby Marble Michael T. Marcucci Thomas C. Marie Robert Morrill Debbie Mozer Gustave H. Murby Tim Nugent Stephen Pelosi Randy Rogers Victoria Schepps Thomas J. Schlesinger James O’Shaughnessy James Shannon Robert M. Skloff Caroline Standley Catherine Steever Gregory Sullivan Sharon KinglseyTatro Maryalice Whalen Mary Wilson John (Jack) Wolfe TOWN OF MEDFIELD Scott F. McDermott Town Moderator Respectfully submitted: Scott F. McDermott

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Posted in Appointments, Financial, Uncategorized, Warrant Committee

Bond sale for MHS field

Posted on July 28, 2016 | Comments Off on Bond sale for MHS field

Mike Sullivan today shared the information on the July 25 bond sale for the new MHS field –

The debt schedule for the high school field and track renovation is attached. Georgia will be at Tuesday’s Selectmen’s meeting with the votes you need to make and the documents you need to sign. Please note that the Treasurer elected to go with a 15 year bond, which will result in annual principal payments of $100,000/year. Also, the net interest cost is 1.63 %, while the annual coupon rates range from 2% to 4%. The reason for this is that the low bid included a $45,000 premium payment, which will reduce the net interest cost. The issue was sold on the 25th of July, rather than the 27th to try to lock in a lower rate in case the Federal Reserve Board announced it’s intention to raise interest rates this year. Mike S

20160725-Bonds-MHS field

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Posted in Financial, Medfield High School, Uncategorized

Financial data online

Posted on July 21, 2016 | Comments Off on Financial data online

budget-3

ClearGov put our general financial data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue on-line for us as a promotion, seeking to sell us more services.

http://www.cleargov.com/massachusetts/norfolk/town/medfield/2014

If  residents want access to the details of the town’s finances, it too can be put on-line for them.  The state and the City of Boston have both put their checkbooks online.

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Uncategorized

Medfield’s one earmark vetoed by Governor

Posted on July 12, 2016 | Comments Off on Medfield’s one earmark vetoed by Governor

State-House-smaller_1 (1)

Medfield was scheduled to get only one earmark in the FY17 state budget, $150,000 for the state to build a new road to the Charles River Overlook on state land, so that the easement over the town’s former MSH property could be eliminated.  Per John Nunnari’s email this morning, Governor Baker vetoed that money.  Many such vetoes are overridden by the legislature.

John closely follows the legislature for the architects, and always knows what is happening.

All,

Just fyi, but as part of the Governor’s veto message, the following has been eliminated:

 2810-0100 For the operation of the division of state parks and recreation;…. provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended for the creation of a roadway at the former Medfield State Hospital property in the town of Medfield

 I’m hearing that the House/Senate intend to take up the Governors vetoes during Formal Sessions on Thursday  – with the potential for it to extend into a rare Friday Formal Session.

House and Senate leadership are upset with the Gov’s $256M in reductions over 303 line items (which included approx.. $60M in earmarks – which the Medfield State Hospital roadway project would be considered).

More to come.

john

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Legislature, Medfield State Hospital, State, Uncategorized

Brexit to cost Medfield $

Posted on June 28, 2016 | Comments Off on Brexit to cost Medfield $

MMA

MMA alert today –

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

STATE BUDGET WOES DEEPEN, STATE FACING FISCAL 2017 REVENUE GAP OF UP TO $950 MILLION

PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY TO ENSURE THAT CITIES AND TOWNS ARE PROTECTED AS LAWMAKERS SEEK TO CLOSE WIDENING FISCAL 2017 DEFICIT

Brexit Vote Destabilizes World Economy, State Leaders Predict Further Loss of Tax Revenue for Fiscal 2017

As we reported in an MMA Action Alert yesterday (Monday), deliberations on the fiscal 2017 state budget have been thrown into disarray by a major slump in state tax collections. Unfortunately, the state’s fiscal picture has darkened even more.

Late yesterday afternoon, Governor Baker announced that the revenue shortfall for fiscal 2017 is likely to be $200 million worse than the gloomy projections made less than two weeks ago, mostly as a result of widespread unrest and financial volatility stemming from the Brexit vote, combined with lower-than-expected tax collections as the state closes fiscal year 2016.

The new estimate is that fiscal 2017 tax revenues will be $650 million to $950 million lower than originally thought.

This is bad news, because a revenue loss of this magnitude will force deep cuts across all aspects of the new state budget. The three separate fiscal 2017 budgets set by the Governor, House and Senate were all based on the original, higher revenue projection, which means all of the plans are out of balance.

The Legislature has passed a temporary 1-month budget to cover state obligations through the end of July and provide some breathing room for legislators while they dramatically scale back their fiscal 2017 budget.

It is imperative to remind your legislators that cities and towns have already set their budgets based on reasonable estimates of local aid and education funding. Any cuts to municipal or school accounts would trigger major budget problems in all 351 cities and towns. Any local aid reductions at this point would be incredibly disruptive, and would force communities to reopen their already-passed budgets and impose mid-year cuts.

Please call your legislators today to oppose cuts to Cherry Sheet Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), Chapter 70 school aid and other municipal and school aid accounts that are included in your local spending plans. Reliance on the property tax to fund municipal and school services is at a 30-year high, and it is too late to pursue tax overrides to replace lost local aid. Any local aid reduction would translate into cuts in essential services and programs that are necessary for our economic growth and stability.

Please Call Your Legislators Today and Ask Them to Protect Local Aid

 

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Massachusetts Municipal Association, Uncategorized

MMA on Senate budget

Posted on May 18, 2016 | Comments Off on MMA on Senate budget

MMA

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE OFFERS $39.5B FY 2017 STATE BUDGET THAT MAKES KEY INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL AID

• INCLUDES THE FULL $42M INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID (UGGA)

• INCREASES CHAPTER 70 BY $44M ABOVE THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET TO PROVIDE MINIMUM AID OF $55 PER STUDENT, INCREASE TARGET SHARE FUNDING, AND HELP ADDRESS THE LOW-INCOME STUDENT FACTOR

• ADDS $9.3M TO FULLY FUND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER

• LEVEL-FUNDS MOST OTHER MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS

• BUT THE SW&M BUDGET CUTS $16.6M FROM KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, WHICH WOULD CREATE SHORTFALLS IN 164 SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Earlier today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee reported out a tight $39.5 billion fiscal 2017 state budget plan to increase overall state expenditures by approximately 3.5 percent. The Senate Ways and Means budget is slightly smaller than the budget passed by the House in April and the version filed by the Governor in March, yet it would offer the largest increase in Chapter 70 aid. The full Senate will debate the fiscal 2017 state budget beginning on Tuesday, May 24.

S. 4, the Senate Ways & Means budget, provides strong progress on many important local aid priorities, including the full $42 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid that the Governor and House have agreed on. The SW&M Committee would increase funding for several major aid programs, by adding $9.3 million to the Special Education Circuit Breaker, increasing Chapter 70 minimum aid to $55 per student, and by adding funds in the Chapter 70 distribution to help address the low-income student calculation (the House budget has a separate $10 million reserve account for this issue), and to accelerate implementation of the so-called target share provisions in Chapter 70.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE YOUR COMMUNITY’S LOCAL AID AND PRELIMINARY CHERRY SHEET NUMBERS IN THE SENATE WAYS & MEANS BUDGET, AS ESTIMATED BY THE DIVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES

$42 MILLION INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID

In a major victory for cities and towns, S. 4 (the SW&M fiscal 2017 budget plan) would provide $1.021 billion for UGGA, a $42 million increase over current funding – the same increase proposed by Governor Baker and the House of Representatives. The $42 million would increase UGGA funding by 4.3 percent, which matches the growth in state tax collections next year. This would be the largest increase in discretionary municipal aid in nearly a decade. Every city and town would see their UGGA funding increase by 4.3 percent.

CHAPTER 70 MINIMUM AID WOULD INCREASE TO $55 PER STUDENT

The Senate budget committee is proposing a $116 million increase in Chapter 70 education aid above fiscal 2016 levels, providing every city, town and school district with an increase of at least $55 per student. In addition to the minimum aid increase, which matches the House-passed level, the SW&M Committee would add additional funds to aid communities impacted by changes in the calculations used to account for low-income students. (The House included a $10 million reserve account for this issue instead of incorporating the funds into the Chapter 70 distribution). Further, the SW&M budget would accelerate the implementation of the 2007 target share provisions (the Senate proposal is to fund 85% of the target share goal, compared to the House’s 70% funding level). Overall, the SW&M budget would provide $44 million more in direct Chapter 70 distributions than the Governor’s budget, and $20 million more than the House (or $10 million more after recognizing the House’s $10 million reserve for low-income students).

$9.3 MILLION INCREASE INTENDED TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER

In another victory for cities and towns, Senate leaders have announced that they support full funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker program. Their budget plan would provide $281.1 million, a $9.3 million increase above fiscal 2016, with the intention of fully funding the account. The Governor level funded the circuit-breaker program, and the House provided a $5 million increase. This is a vital program that every city, town and school district relies on to fund state-mandated services.

BUT THE SW&M BUDGET WOULD CUT $16.6 MILLION FROM KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, AN 89% REDUCTION THAT WOULD HIT 164 DISTRICTS

In a troubling development, S. 4 would cut $16.6 million from Kindergarten Development Grants, leaving only $2 million in this program that funds Kindergarten programs in 164 school districts. The Governor and House level-funded the program at $18.6 million. Restoring these funds will be a major priority during the budget debate, and local officials will want to talk with their Senators about this program right away. Please click here to see if your community is receiving these grants in fiscal 2016. These funds are in jeopardy if the S. 4 appropriation remains in place.

FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS INCREASED BY $7 MILLION, BUT STILL UNDERFUNDED

Under state law, cities and towns that host or send students to charter schools are entitled to be reimbursed for a portion of their lost Chapter 70 aid. The state fully funded the reimbursement program in fiscal years 2013 and 2014, but is underfunding reimbursements by approximately $46.5 million this year. The Senate Ways and Means budget would increase funding for charter school reimbursements to $87.5 million, a $7 million boost. This is $2 million more than the House proposed and $15 million less than the amount recommended by Gov. Baker. The program is underfunded in all three budget proposals, and increasing this account will be a top priority during the Senate budget debate.

REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, PAYMENTS-IN-LIEU-OF-TAXES (PILOT), LIBRARY AID ACCOUNTS, METCO, McKINNEY-VENTO, AND SHANNON ANTI-GANG GRANTS

The Senate budget committee’s proposal would level-fund Regional School Transportation Reimbursements at $59 million ($1 million less than the House budget), level fund PILOT payments at $26.77 million (the same as the House and Governor), level-fund METCO at $20.1 million, and level-fund McKinney-Vento reimbursements at $8.35 million. S. 4 would fund library grant programs at $18.9 million ($70K less than fiscal 2016 and $750K less than the House). The SW&M budget would reduce Shannon Anti-Gang Grants to $5 million (a $2 million reduction below fiscal 2016, and $1 million below the House).

Please Call Your Senators Today to Thank Them for the Strong Municipal Aid and Chapter 70 Investments in the Senate Ways and Means Committee Budget, Including the $42 Million Increase in Unrestricted Local Aid, Providing Chapter 70 Minimum Aid at $55 Per Student, and Full Funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker

Please Let Your Senators Know if You Are Affected by Underfunding in Charter School Reimbursements and Kindergarten Development Grants

Please Explain How the Senate Ways and Means Budget Impacts Your Community, and Ask Your Senators to Build on this Progress During Budget Debate in the Senate

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Massachusetts Municipal Association, State, Uncategorized

$200K more in FY17 state aide proposed

Posted on May 18, 2016 | Comments Off on $200K more in FY17 state aide proposed

State-House-smaller_1 (1)

The Senate budget numbers for FY17 are now out, and they are the same as the House numbers.  We are looking at about a $200K increase over last year.  John Nunnari provided the following proposed state funding for Medfield numbers.

Just in case you hadn’t seen it, the Senate budget came out today.

Here is where Medfield stands in terms of Chapter 70 allocations.

john

 

Municipality/Regional District 7061-0008 Chapter 70 Unrestricted General Government Aid Annual Formula Local Aide
FY ’15 Actual Appropriation $5,862,409.00 $1,289,875.00 $0.00
FY ’16 Actual Appropriation $5,925,859.00 $1,336,310.00
Governors FY ’17 Proposal $5,975,759.00 $1,393,771.00 $0.00
Medfield (House FY ’17 Proposed Numbers) $6,063,084.00 $1,393,771.00 $0.00
Medfield (Senate FY 17 Proposed Numbers) $6,063,084.00 $1,393,771.00 $0.00
FY ’17 Conference Committee Report           July +/- $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

 

 

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA

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Posted in Buildings, Financial, State, Uncategorized

Field bids $1.6 – 1.8m.

Posted on April 22, 2016 | Comments Off on Field bids $1.6 – 1.8m.

MHS field

The ATM article 21 looked to appropriate $1.4m. to renovate the MHS turf field.  Per an email today from Mike Sullivan, the bids opened this morning came in higher.

The bids for the school field & track rebuild were opened at 10:00 a.m. this morning. There were five bids and they ranged, roughly, between $1.6 and $1.8 million. The School Dept. is working to see how the work can be reduced to bring it back to the $1.4 million that we have been using for Town Meeting. Jeff told me to stick with the $1.4 million figure and they would go with that amount on Monday. Mike S

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Posted in Budgets, Financial, Medfield High School, Schools, Uncategorized