Category Archives: Legislature

Our final state aid

Posted on July 9, 2015 | Comments Off on Our final state aid

The state has passed the budget, albeit a week into the fiscal year.  These are Medfield’s state local aid numbers, netting us a total of $7,358,252, up over $100,000 from $7,255,166 last year –
FY2016 Local Aid Estimates
Medfield
FY2015 Cherry Sheet Estimate
FY2016 Governor’s Budget Proposal
FY2016 House Budget Proposal
FY2016 Senate Budget Proposal
FY2016 Conference Committee
Education:
Chapter 70
5,862,409
5,913,169
5,925,859
5,925,859
5,925,859
School Transportation
0
0
0
0
0
Charter Tuition Reimbursement
12,129
998
1,164
1,212
1,090
Smart Growth School Reimbursement
0
0
0
0
0
Offset Receipts:
School Choice Receiving Tuition
0
0
0
0
0
Sub-total, All Education Items:
5,874,538
5,914,167
5,927,023
5,927,071
5,926,949
General Government:
Unrestricted Gen Gov’t Aid
1,289,875
1,336,310
1,336,310
1,336,310
1,336,310
Local Sh of Racing Taxes
0
0
0
0
0
Regional Public Libraries
0
0
0
0
0
Urban Revitalization
0
0
0
0
0
Veterans Benefits
18,649
21,430
21,430
21,430
21,430
State Owned Land
28,261
28,261
28,261
28,261
28,261
Exemp: VBS and Elderly
27,101
28,947
28,947
28,947
28,947
Offset Receipts:
Public Libraries
16,742
16,096
16,134
16,355
16,355
Sub-Total, All General Government
1,380,628
1,431,044
1,431,082
1,431,303
1,431,303
Total Estimated Receipts
7,255,166
7,345,211
7,358,105
7,358,374
7,358,252
Although the School Lunch program continues to be funded, we have removed the estimate from the cherry sheet as this program is an education offset that has no impact on the tax rate setting process.

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Posted in Budgets, Legislature

MMA on state budget

Posted on July 8, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA on state budget

This alert this AM from the Massachusetts Municipal Association on the state budget agreed upon by the Conference Committee, and scheduled for votes today in the legislature.   The highlights:

  • $34 million increase in state local aid funding over current funding.  This will be the largest increase in discretionary municipal aid in nearly a decade.
  • MBTA reforms get half a loaf, by creating a financial oversight board, but not giving it authority of the binding arbitration awards, which are the biggest cost driver. –

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

LEGISLATURE AGREES ON $38.1B FY 2016 STATE BUDGET THAT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR KEY MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL AID PROGRAMS

STATE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT SCHEDULED FOR VOTES IN HOUSE AND SENATE TODAY, HEADED TO GOVERNOR’S DESK

LEGISLATURE’S BUDGET INCREASES UGGA BY $34M, ADDS $18.1M TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER, RESTORES $7.5M TO REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION, FUNDS CH. 70 MINIMUM AID AT $25 PER STUDENT, PROTECTS $18.6M FOR KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, ADDS $3.6M TO CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS

Eight days into the new fiscal year, House and Senate budget negotiators have reached agreement on a $38.14 billion state budget, a fiscal 2016 budget plan that will be approved later this afternoon by votes in each branch. The Governor will have ten days to review, approve or veto hundreds of line item appropriations and outside sections. In the meantime, the state is maintaining operations through a temporary budget that runs through the end of July.

As proposed by the House-Senate budget conference committee, the Legislature’s fiscal 2016 state budget (H. 3650) would increase overall expenditures by approximately 3.5 percent, as the state seeks to close a projected $1.8 billion structural budget deficit by restraining spending and eliminating up to 5,000 state jobs through a hiring freeze, attrition and an early retirement program.

In terms of local aid, the Legislature’s budget provides strong progress on many important municipal priorities, including the significant victory in embracing the $34 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid as proposed by Gov. Baker and requested by the MMA. Beyond that, the Legislature has added more than $50 million to key municipal and education aid accounts and reimbursement programs above the amount recommended by the Governor in his March budget proposal. This is a major victory for cities and towns that was made possible by your strong advocacy.

The budget would expand the earned income tax credit for low-income workers by an estimated $71 million, and fund that expansion by eliminating a corporate tax break on recognized income. The Senate had proposed a freeze on the scheduled decrease in the state income tax rate, but that provision was not included in the budget.

The House and Senate compromised on MBTA reform language. In a win for Gov. Baker, the Legislature’s budget includes a three-year suspension of the Pacheco anti-outsourcing law for the MBTA, and provides for a Fiscal and Management Control Board to oversee the MBTA. The Governor had requested a strong control board with approval over binding arbitration decisions. The Legislature’s version provides for a separate MBTA control board, but does not grant the panel authority over binding arbitration awards.

Here is a summary and status of the key municipal and school funding issues in the Legislature’s fiscal 2016 state budget plan:

SENATE, HOUSE AND GOVERNOR ALL AGREE ON $34 MILLION INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID
In a major win for cities and towns, the Senate, House and Governor’s budgets all supported $979.8 million for UGGA, a $34 million increase over current funding.  This will be the largest increase in discretionary municipal aid in nearly a decade.  Every city and town will see their UGGA funding increase by 3.6 percent.

LEGISLATURE EMBRACES $18.3 MILLION INCREASE TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER
In another victory for cities and towns, the Legislature’s budget would fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker program.  The House-Senate budget plan would provide $271.7 million, an $18.3 million increase above fiscal 2015.  The Governor’s original budget proposal would have level-funded the program at $253.4 million, but the MMA made full funding a top priority, and the Legislature responded.  This is a vital program that every city, town and school district relies on to fund state-mandated services.

LEGISLATURE’S BUDGET MAINTAINS KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AT $18.6 MILLION
The Legislature’s budget would maintain funding for Kindergarten Development Grants at $18.6 million in fiscal 2016, which is a major victory for the 117 communities and school districts that depend on these funds. The Governor’s budget would have eliminated all funding.  This is an important account, because reducing or eliminating the $18.6 million would jeopardize expanded kindergarten programs all throughout the state.

LEGISLATURE ADDS $7.5 MILLION FOR REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION REIMBURSEMENTS
The Legislature’s budget would restore $7.5 million to regional school transportation funding, providing a total of $59 million for the upcoming year.  Last November, former Gov. Patrick used his 9C budget powers to reduce this important program down to $51.5 million, and Gov. Baker’s fiscal 2016 budget proposal would have kept funding at that level.  The Legislature’s final proposal is a major step forward for communities with regional school districts.

LEGISLATURE BACKS CHAPTER 70 MINIMUM AID OF $25 PER STUDENT
The Legislature’s budget is proposing a $111.2 million increase in Chapter 70 education aid, with a provision providing every city, town and school district an increase of at least $25 per student, an improvement over the $20 per student amount originally proposed in March.  The Legislature’s appropriation is $5.9 million more than the recommendation in the Governor’s budget submission, and the increase would be used to ensure the $25 per student minimum aid level and to slightly accelerate the implementation of the target share provisions enacted in 2007

LEGISLATURE WOULD INCREASE CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS BY $3.64 MILLION, ACCOUNT REMAINS 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 2013 and 2014, but is underfunding reimbursements by approximately $34 million this year (fiscal 2015).  The Governor’s proposed fiscal 2016 budget would have level-funded charter school reimbursements at $76.8 million, which would guarantee another major shortfall in fiscal 2016, and result in cutbacks for the majority of students who remain in the traditional school setting.  The Legislature is proposing a $3.64 million increase up to $80.5 million.  The lawmakers’ action to increase funding is appreciated, yet it is important to remember that the account is still significantly underfunded.

LEGISLATURE ADDS $1 MILLION TO McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS
The Legislature’s budget would add $1 million to increase fiscal 2016 reimbursements for the transportation of homeless students to $8.35 million, the same funding level proposed by the Governor.  While the account remains below the full reimbursement called for under the state’s unfunded mandate law, this would be the first increase since fiscal 2013.

PAYMENTS-IN-LIEU-OF-TAXES (PILOT), LIBRARY AID ACCOUNTS, METCO, AND SHANNON ANTI-GANG GRANTS, VOKE ED TRANSPORTATION
PILOT PAYMENTS: The Legislature’s budget would level-fund PILOT payments at $26.77 million.
LIBRARY AID: The Legislature would fund library grant programs at $19 million, a $500 thousand increase above fiscal 2015 post-9C levels.
METCO: The Legislature would fund METCO at $20.14 million, a $2.23 million increase above fiscal 2015 post-9C levels.
SHANNON GRANTS: The Legislature is proposing $7 million, the same amount proposed by Gov. Baker in March.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TRANSPORTATION: Last year, Gov. Patrick wiped out all fiscal 2015 funding using his 9C powers, and the Legislature’s budget would restore $1.75 million for fiscal 2016.

LEGISLATURE PROVIDES UP TO $10M FOR COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT FUNDING
During fiscal 2015, 156 cities and towns collected the local Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge and are eligible for state matching grants in fiscal 2016.  The Division of Local Services (DLS) estimates that the balance in the state trust fund will be sufficient to provide a first round match of only 18 percent of the surcharge levied by each city and town.  This would be the lowest state match in the program’s history.  Knowing this, the Legislature’s budget would devote up to $10 million of any fiscal 2015 year-end state budget surplus to supplement the fiscal 2016 state match, a significant boost for all CPA communities.  Gov. Baker did not include a matching provision in his proposed budget.

MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN BUDGET
Although the House and Senate budgets each included differently worded provisions prohibiting “pay the patient” practices by insurance companies for ambulance services, the Legislature’s final budget does not include any language addressing this problem.  “Pay the patient” undermines the ability of cities and towns to fund and operate effective and efficient ambulance services that are at the core of emergency medical response in Massachusetts and forces communities to pursue their own residents to recoup thousands of dollars in ambulance expenses, a system that is inefficient and subject to abuse.  The House had adopted an amendment to ban “pay the patient” practices, with language stating that municipalities would be authorized to set a fair rate for ambulance services, preventing insurance companies from shifting costs to local property taxpayers through below-cost reimbursements.  The Senate budget would have given ultimate rate-setting authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, which the MMA opposed because removal of local control over ambulance rates would have created large budget problems for cities and towns.  The Governor’s budget did not address the issue.  Because this issue has not been resolved, the MMA will continue its efforts to ban “pay the patient” practices by insurance companies.

Please Call Your Legislators Today and Thank Them for a Strong Fiscal 2016 State Budget that Makes Progress on Key Municipal and Education Aid Priorities

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Posted in Budgets, Legislature

Senate budget

Posted on May 22, 2015 | Comments Off on Senate budget

This is how we do under the Senate’s budget –

FY2016 Local Aid Estimates
All Municipal
FY2015 Cherry Sheet Estimate
FY2016 Governor’s Budget Proposal
FY2016 House Final Budget Proposal
FY2016 Senate Final Budget Proposal
FY2016 Conference Committee
Education:
Chapter 70
3,730,480,705
3,828,556,906
3,830,886,519
3,833,516,810
School Transportation
154,078
110,488
124,430
130,136
Charter Tuition Reimbursement
76,974,357
74,728,135
74,431,420
81,866,459
Smart Growth School Reimbursement
436,743
436,743
250,000
436,743
Offset Receipts:
School Choice Receiving Tuition
45,494,828
46,648,312
46,648,312
46,648,312
Sub-total, All Education Items:
3,853,540,711
3,950,480,584
3,952,340,681
3,962,598,460
General Government:
Unrestricted Gen Gov’t Aid
945,750,001
979,797,001
979,797,001
979,797,001
Local Sh of Racing Taxes
816,585
710,500
710,500
710,500
Regional Public Libraries
2,501,833
2,521,970
2,601,883
2,601,883
Urban Revitalization
1,286,806
1,286,306
1,286,306
1,286,306
Veterans Benefits
50,344,210
51,516,162
51,516,162
51,516,162
State Owned Land
26,770,000
26,770,000
26,770,000
26,770,000
Exemp: VBS and Elderly
24,416,788
24,673,163
24,673,163
24,673,163
Offset Receipts:
Public Libraries
9,000,000
8,826,300
8,847,300
9,029,000
Sub-Total, All General Government
1,060,886,223
1,096,101,402
1,096,202,315
1,096,384,015
Total Estimated Receipts
4,914,426,934
5,046,581,986
5,048,542,996
5,058,982,475
Although the School Lunch program is funded in both the FY2015 final budget and the FY2016 Governor’s, House Final and Senate Final budget proposals, we have removed the estimate from the cherry sheet as this program is an education offset that has no impact on the tax rate setting process.

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MMA on Senate version of state budget

Posted on May 18, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA on Senate version of state budget

This alert this morning from the Massachusetts Municipal Association on the Senate deliberations tomorrow on the state budget, highlighting issues important to towns. –

Monday, May 18, 2015

SENATE DEBATE ON FY 2016 STATE BUDGET BEGINS TUESDAY – CALL YOUR SENATORS

Lawmakers Will Decide the Fate of 942 Amendments

Please Call Your Senators Today on the Budget Amendments that Impact Key Municipal and School Priorities

The Massachusetts Senate will begin debating the $38 billion fiscal 2016 state budget on Tuesday, May 19th. The deliberations are expected to take several days, as Senators have filed 942 amendments to make changes to S. 3, the Senate Ways & Means Committee’s budget recommendation that was released last week.

Many of these amendments would directly impact cities and towns, including a number of welcome amendments that would increase funding for municipal and school aid accounts. This Legislative Alert describes the most important amendments that will be debated.

Please Call Your Senators Today

Please call your Senators as soon as possible today to secure their support for those amendments that would help your community.

Lawmakers must hear from you on these issues. Because of the great number of amendments, the summaries here are very brief. Please contact MMA Legislative Director John Robertson at jrobertson@mma.org or 617-426-7272 x122 at any time if you have questions or need more details.

When you call your Senators, please make sure to thank them for the proposals in the Senate budget to increase Unrestricted General Government Aid by $34 million (matching the budgets from the Governor and House), and for the $18.2 million increase to fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker.

Please Click Here to Download a Copy of the MMA’s Budget Letter to the Senate

Please Click Here to Visit the Senate Budget Website to See the Amendments: The Senate budget committee recommendation (S. 3) and all proposed amendments are posted on the Legislature’s website at: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2016/Senate/ChamberActions

KEY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON SCHOOL AND EDUCATION FUNDING

Adequate Chapter 70 Minimum Aid for Municipal and Regional Schools
The MMA is calling for a sufficient funding increase for Chapter 70 school aid to ensure that all municipal and regional school districts are able to reach the “foundation” level of spending, implement the equity provisions adopted in 2006, and provide an adequate amount of minimum aid that ensures that all schools receive an increase in fiscal 2016.

The Governor proposed a fiscal 2016 Chapter 70 increase that sets minimum aid at only $20 per student for 245 cities, towns and school districts, an insufficient amount to maintain current school staffing and services. The Senate budget would increase minimum aid to $25 per student, but in reality this still leaves too many schools unable to maintain quality school programs. Recognizing that the Foundation Budget Review Commission will not file its report until mid-2015, far past the deadline for inclusion in the fiscal 2016 state budget, the MMA is urging the House to adopt a higher minimum aid amount to prevent further erosion in school financing at the local level.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 94 filed by Sen. Eldridge and Amendment 100 filed by Sen. Hedlund to increase the “minimum aid” amount to $50 per student. This amendment would benefit 245 cities, towns and school districts, and give these communities a better chance of maintaining the quality of their existing education programming.

Reimbursements for Charter School Losses
The diversion of Chapter 70 school aid away from public schools to pay tuition to charter schools has imposed a major and growing financial burden on cities and towns, a problem made more acute as the state grants more charters and existing charter schools expand. Local officials strongly support full funding of the Commonwealth’s commitment under section 89 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws to reimburse school districts for the loss of a portion of their Chapter 70 aid that is redirected to fund charter schools.

In fiscal 2015, it is expected that cities and towns will be forced to divert $444 million to fund charter schools, 10 percent of all Chapter 70 dollars. This illustrates the importance of this issue to local governments, and why it is critical for the state to meet its commitment to this program. The original $80 million appropriation in the fiscal 2015 general appropriations act was $30.5 million below the full funding amount required in the statutory formula, which was signed into law only a few years ago. The problem has deepened with two rounds of 9C cuts to this account ($3.1 million), increasing the fiscal 2015 shortfall to at least $33.6 million.

The funding shortfall means that cities and towns are receiving only a fraction of the reimbursements due according to state law. This is impacting a large number of communities, including some the state’s poorest and most financially distressed cities and towns. Thus, the underfunding of the charter school reimbursement formula is harming the most vulnerable and challenged school districts and communities.

The House and Governor’s fiscal 2016 budget would level fund charter school reimbursements at $76.9 million, even though local payments to charter schools are expected to increase by $56.5 million. Full funding of the statutory formula would require $133.5 million. Without these funds, cities and towns will face another major shortfall next year, and result in cutbacks for the vast majority of students who remain in the traditional public school setting. The SW&M budget would provide $80 million, which is still far below the necessary funding.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 616 filed by Sen. Chang-Diaz, and Amendment 608 filed by Sens. Hedlund and Moore. These critical amendments would fully fund charter school reimbursements due to cities, towns and regional school districts by providing the full $133.5 million necessary to meet the state’s obligation.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Student Transportation Costs
In fiscal 2013, the state budget provided $11.3 million to fully fund the state-mandated costs that resulted from the Commonwealth’s adoption of the federal McKinney-Vento Act. The State Auditor ruled that the McKinney-Vento program was an unfunded mandate on cities and towns, and the Legislature provided full funding soon after that ruling. Under the program, communities are providing very costly transportation services to bus homeless students to schools outside of the local school district. However, the fiscal 2014 state budget reduced McKinney-Vento reimbursements to $7.4 million, underfunding this state mandate. Full funding for this year is estimated at $19.8 million, but the Commonwealth level-funded the program at $7.35 million, creating a shortfall of $12.5 million in the current fiscal year.

The House and Governor are proposing a $1 million increase for fiscal 2016 to bring funding for McKinney-Vento reimbursements up to $8.4 million, yet the SW&M budget would level-fund the program at $7.4 million. Full funding for this state mandate would require $20.8 million, according to the most recent DESE projection.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 586 filed by Sens. Eldridge and Lesser, Amendment 569 filed by Sens. Lovely and Barrett, and Amendment 611 filed by Sens. Hedlund and Moore that would fund reimbursements due to municipalities and school districts for the cost of transporting homeless students from temporary shelters to school. In addition, please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 33 filed by Senator Lovely that would protect cities and towns that host homeless families from reduced room occupancy excise revenues as a result of the state’s emergency assistance (EA) program.

Regional School District Student Transportation Reimbursements
Funding for transportation reimbursements to regional school districts is vital to all regional districts and their member cities and towns, particularly in sparsely populated parts of the state. The Legislature appropriated $70.3 million for fiscal 2015, but, unfortunately, Governor Patrick used his 9C powers to cut the amount in November by 27 percent, an unexpected $18.7 million loss, returning the program to fiscal 2014 levels just months after coming closer to full funding. Decades ago, the state promised 100 percent reimbursement as an incentive for towns and cities to regionalize, and the consistent underfunding of this account has presented serious budget challenges for these districts, taking valuable dollars from the classroom. The Governor’s budget proposal would level-fund regional school transportation reimbursements at $51.5 million, dropping the reimbursement percentage down to 64 percent. The Senate Ways and Means Committee would restore $5 million to this key program in fiscal 2016, and bring funding up to $56.5 million, a positive and helpful increase, yet still below the funding needed.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 545 filed by Senator Gobi and others, Amendment 522 filed by Senator Humason and Amendment 612 filed by Senators Hedlund and Moore that would build on the progress in S. 3, and bring transportation reimbursements to regional school districts closer to the original fiscal 2015 appropriation.

Out-of-District Vocational Education Student Transportation
The fiscal 2015 state budget included $2.25 million item to reimburse communities for a portion of the $3.8 million cost of transporting students to out-of-district placements in vocational schools, as mandated by state law. This account recognizes the significant expense of providing transportation services for out-of-district placements, as these students must travel long distances to participate in vocational programs that are not offered locally. Governor Patrick slashed all funding with his November 9C cuts, a painful mid-year loss. The SW&M budget does not include any funding.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 574 filed by Sen. Gobi to fully fund the $3.9 million cost of transporting students to out-of-district placements in vocational schools.

Kindergarten Expansion Grants
177 cities, towns and regional school districts in every corner of the Commonwealth use this important grant program to support full-day access to local kindergarten programs – including communities in virtually every Senate district. Funding for the program in the fiscal 2015 general appropriations act was $23.9 million before being reduced through two rounds of 9C cuts to $18.6 million. The Governor’s budget recommendation would eliminate all funding in fiscal 2016, an extremely disruptive step that would force participating communities to immediately decide whether to end or scale back their current kindergarten programs or cut other school and classroom services. Real progress was made in the House budget, with Representatives voting to restore the program to $18.6 million. However, the SW&M budget would reduce the program down to $1 million. We strongly support restoring Kindergarten Development Grants to at least the fiscal 2015 post-9C level of $18.6 million, and are asking Senators to also consider restoring the program to the original $23.9 million level.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 549 filed by Senator Joyce and Amendment 613 filed by Senator Hedlund and others to level fund this account at the fiscal 2015 appropriation.

Circuit Breaker for English Language Learners
One of the many lessons learned from the six public hearings held by the Foundation Budget Review Commission last year and into this Spring is that cities and towns struggling to meet the educational needs of an increasing number of students with special needs separate from special education programs. This includes low-income and English language learner (ELL) students.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 550 filed by Senator Fattman that would establish a “circuit breaker” program for English language learners, laying the foundation for future financial assistance from the Commonwealth.


KEY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON MUNICIPAL AID PROGRAMS AND MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT POLICY

Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT)
The Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) program is a particularly important program for the cities and towns that host and provide municipal services to state facilities that are exempt from the local property tax. This account is underfunded at $26.77 million this year, and is still below fiscal 2008 funding. Many of our state’s smallest communities rely heavily on PILOT payments, and shortfalls in this account have a significant impact on their ability to deliver basic municipal services. House One and S. 3would level fund PILOT at $26.77 million.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 101 filed by Sen. Hedlund to add $3.5 million to increase PILOT payments to cities and towns, and bring the account up to $30.3 million.

Shannon Anti-Gang Grants
• The Shannon Grant program has been very effective in enabling cities and towns to respond to and suppress gang-related activities. Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 697 filed by Sen. Donoghue to increase funding for the Shannon anti-gang grant program. This amendment would add $2 million and bring total funding up to $8 million, which is the original fiscal 2015 appropriation.

Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 813 , filed by Sen. Chang-Diaz to increase funding of the Safe and Supportive Youth Initiative from $5 million to $7.58 million. The program seeks to reduce youth violence through wrap-around services for those most likely to be victims or perpetrators, and is vital to violence prevention efforts in dozens of communities.

Summer Jobs for At-Risk Youth
• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 428 filed by Sen. Wolf to increase funding for youth summer jobs from $11.5 million to $12 million. This funding is critical to providing employment opportunities for at-risk teenagers in our cities and towns, especially with youth unemployment rates climbing.

Protection of Municipal Emergency Medical Services
• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 775 filed by Sen. Donnelly that would prevent the practice of “pay the patient,” by insurance companies, which undermines the ability of cities and towns to fund and operate responsive and efficient ambulance services that are at the core of emergency medical services in Massachusetts. “Pay the patient” would force communities to pursue their own residents to recoup thousands of dollars in ambulance expenses, a system that is inefficient and subject to abuse. Amendment 775 would also clarify that municipalities are authorized to set a fair rate for ambulance services. Cities and towns set fees and charges for a wide variety of municipal services very strictly limited by state law to the cost of providing the service. This is the same rule that would apply to rate setting for emergency ambulance services. It would ensure that rates are reasonable and prevent insurance companies from shifting costs to local property taxpayers through below-cost reimbursements.

Funding for the State Rehabilitation Tax Credit
• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 17 filed by Senators Moore and Tarr. This amendment would increase the capitalization of the State Historic Tax Credit Fund from $50 million to $75 million, bolstering the adaptive reuse of historic buildings in communities across the state and providing an important piece of project financing for many rehabilitative developments.

Closing the Online Room Reseller Tax Loophole
• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 23 filed by Senator Montigny to ensure equitable taxation of hotel rooms purchased through online room resellers. Because of a glaring loophole, when a hotel reservation is made through an online hotel room reseller, the tax that is collected is based on an artificially low room rate, not on the room rate that the consumer actually pays. This amendment would ensure that internet resellers cannot avoid collecting and submitting the full state and local room occupancy excise tax based on the actual room rate charged to the consumer. Eliminating this loophole will ensure a level playing field for all parties.

Closing the Vacation Rental Tax Loophole
• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 70 filed by Senator Wolf to modernize the room occupancy tax. This amendment would make the lodging excise applicable to short-term or seasonal lodging rentals in private homes or other similar accommodations. Such short-term rentals have become increasingly popular and common with the expansion of the sharing economy and the advent of online booking sites like Airbnb for such rooms. As with the room reseller issue, eliminating this glaring loophole will provide a level playing field in the lodging industry, and ensure that the existing room occupancy tax is fairly applied in all appropriate instances.

KEY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON CAPITAL SPENDING PRIORITIES

Community Preservation Act Funding
During fiscal 2015, 156 cities and towns collected the local Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge and are eligible for state matching grants in fiscal 2016. The Division of Local Services (DLS) estimates that the balance in the state trust fund will be sufficient to provide a first round match of only 18 percent of the surcharge levied by each city and town. This would be the lowest state match in the program’s history.

• Please ask your Senators to Support Amendment 54 filed by Senator Creem and others and Amendments 1 and 65 filed by Senators Tarr and Hedlund that would dedicate a portion of any fiscal 2015 year-end state budget surplus, up to $25 million, to supplement the fiscal 2016 state match. The fiscal 2014 state match was supplemented by $25 million from the fiscal 2013 year-end surplus, and $11.4 million was made available last year from the fiscal 2014 surplus.

Please Call Your Senators Today on the Budget Amendments that Impact Your Community!

Thank You!

 

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Posted in Budgets, Legislature, Massachusetts Municipal Association

House budget passed

Posted on May 2, 2015 | Comments Off on House budget passed

The Mass. Municipal Association has analyzed and sent out an alert on the House budget, and its inadequacies.  The main MMA issues continue to be the lack of proper financial support by the state for the towns, and mainly education funding.  The Governor’s budget proposed a $20/child increase in education funding, the House proposes a $25/child increase, and the MMA says it really should be $100/child, but at the very least a $50/child increase.

This was the MMA alert yesterday analyzing the House budget –

Thursday, April 30, 2015

HOUSE PASSES $38.1B FY 2016 STATE BUDGET THAT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR KEY MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL AID PROGRAMS

BUDGET AND LOCAL AID ACTION NOW GOES TO THE SENATE:
PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY AND URGE THEM TO INVEST IN CITIES AND TOWNS

Late yesterday afternoon, after 3 days of deliberation on 1096 amendments, the members of the House of Representatives unanimously adopted a trim $38.1 billion fiscal 2016 state budget plan that is nearly identical to the House Ways and Means draft (H. 3400) that was unveiled 2 weeks ago.

The House-passed budget would increase overall state expenditures by less than 3 percent, as the state seeks to close a projected $1.8 billion structural budget deficit by restraining spending and eliminating 4,500 state jobs through an early retirement program. The final House budget is several million dollars smaller than the budget filed by Governor Baker in March.

The action now turns to the state Senate. The Senate Ways & Means Committee is expected to release its proposed budget by mid-May, and the full Senate will pass its version before the end of the month.

The House budget provides strong progress on many important local aid priorities, while there are still a number of issues where further action or additional funding is needed.

Here is a summary and status of the key municipal and school funding issues in the fiscal 2016 state budget as adopted by House of Representatives on Wednesday:

$34 MILLION INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID
In a major win for cities and towns, the House budget supports $979.8 million for UGGA, a $34 million increase over current funding – the same increase proposed by Governor Baker.  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 3.6 percent.

$8.3 MILLION INCREASE INTENDED TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER
In another victory for cities and towns, House members supported full funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker program.  Their budget plan would provide $261.7 million, an $8.3 million increase above fiscal 2015, with the intention of fully funding the account.  This is a vital program that every city, town and school district relies on to fund state-mandated services.

RESTORES $5 MILLION TO REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
Last November, former Gov. Patrick used his 9C budget powers to eliminate the $18.7 million increase regional school transportation reimbursements that the Legislature originally enacted for fiscal 2015, reducing the final amount to $51.5 million.  The Governor proposed level funding at $51.5.  Recognizing the importance of this funding, the final House budget would restore $5 million to bring regional transportation reimbursements up to $56.5 million.  A proposed amendment to increase funding by another $4 million did not pass during the House budget debate.

RESTORES $18.6 MILLION TO KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The House budget would restore $18.6 million to the Kindergarten Development Grant program.  The Governor’s budget would have eliminated all funding, and House members want to level-fund the current appropriation, at least for the next year.  This is an important account, because eliminating the $18.6 million would have jeopardized expanded kindergarten programs all throughout the state.

CHAPTER 70 MINIMUM AID WOULD INCREASE TO $25 PER STUDENT
The House budget supports a $108.2 million increase in Chapter 70 education aid, with a provision providing every city, town and school district an increase of at least $25 per student.  This is $2.9 million more than the recommendation in the Governor’s budget submission, which included minimum aid of only $20 per student.  During the debate, the House did not adopt an amendment to raise minimum aid to $50 per student. Because most cities and towns only receive minimum aid, the MMA is calling for at least $50 per student minimum aid in the Legislature’s final budget.

McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS WOULD INCREASE BY $1 MILLION
The final House budget would add $1 million to increase fiscal 2016 reimbursements for the transportation of homeless students to $8.4 million.  While the account remains below the full reimbursement called for under the state’s unfunded mandate law, it would be the first increase since fiscal 2013.  The House did not pass a proposed amendment to fully fund the account.

CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS REMAIN SERIOUSLY 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 2013 and 2014, but is underfunding reimbursements by approximately $34 million this year.  Both the Governor and the House Ways and Means budgets would level-fund charter school reimbursements at $76.8 million, which would guarantee another major shortfall in fiscal 2016, and result in cutbacks for the majority of students who remain in the traditional school setting.  Increasing this account was a top priority for municipalities and school districts during the budget debate, but House members rejected an amendment that would have raised funding up to $130.5 million.  This will continue to be a major budget issue as debate turns to the Senate.

PAYMENTS-IN-LIEU-OF-TAXES (PILOT), LIBRARY AID ACCOUNTS, METCO, AND SHANNON ANTI-GANG GRANTS
The House budget would level fund PILOT payments at $26.77 million, continue to fund library grant programs at $18.5 million, and restore funding for METCO to $20.14 million. During debate, the House adopted an amendment to add $1 million to the Shannon anti-gang grant program, providing a final appropriation of $6 million, which is still $1 million below current fiscal 2015 (post-9C) funding.

PROTECTION OF MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
During the budget debate, Representatives approved an amendment adding an outside section that would prevent the practice of “pay the patient” by insurance companies, which undermines the ability of cities and towns to fund and operate effective and efficient ambulance services that are at the core of emergency medical response in Massachusetts. “Pay the patient” would force communities to pursue their own residents to recoup thousands of dollars in ambulance expenses, a system that is inefficient and subject to abuse.  The amendment would also clarify that municipalities are authorized to set a fair rate for ambulance services, preventing insurance companies from shifting costs to local property taxpayers through below-cost reimbursements.

COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT FUNDING COULD RECEIVE $10 MILLION
During fiscal 2015, 156 cities and towns collected the local Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge and are eligible for state matching grants in fiscal 2016.  The Division of Local Services (DLS) estimates that the balance in the state trust fund will be sufficient to provide a first round match of only 18 percent of the surcharge levied by each city and town.  This would be the lowest state match in the program’s history.  Knowing this, House members voted to dedicate up to $10 million of any fiscal 2015 year-end state budget surplus to supplement the fiscal 2016 state match.

Please Call Your Senators Today and Urge them to Support Essential Funding for Municipal and Education Aid – Including the $34 Million Increase in Unrestricted Local Aid, Full Funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker, Restoring Kindergarten Grants, and Adding Funds to Regional School Transportation

Please Explain How the House Budget Impacts Your Community, and Ask Your Senators to Build on this Progress with Further Increases for Charter School Reimbursements, Chapter 70 Minimum Aid, Regional School Transportation and Other Key Accounts

Thank You!

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MMA on state budget

Posted on April 23, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA on state budget

This today from the Massachusetts Municipal Association on what is important to towns in the state budget.  Highlights are the $50/pupil minimum state funding for education (currently it is at $25/pupil) and $25m. for the CPA –

Thursday, April 23, 2015

HOUSE DEBATE ON FY 2016 STATE BUDGET BEGINS MONDAY – CALL YOUR REPS.

Lawmakers Will Decide the Fate of 1,096 Amendments

Please Call Your Representatives Today on the Budget Amendments that Impact Key Municipal and School Priorities

The House of Representatives will begin debating the $38 billion fiscal 2016 state budget on Monday, April 27. The deliberations are expected to take several days, as Representatives have filed 1,096 amendments to make changes to H. 3400, the House Ways & Means Committee’s budget recommendation that was released last week.

Many of these amendments would directly impact cities and towns, including a number of welcome amendments that would increase funding for municipal and school aid accounts, and an unwelcome amendment that would have a negative impact on municipalities. This Legislative Alert describes the most important amendments that will be debated.

Please Call Your Representatives Today

Please call your Representatives as soon as possible today to secure their support for those amendments that would help your community, and ask them to oppose those amendments that would be harmful.

Lawmakers must hear from you on these issues. Because of the great number of amendments, the summaries here are very brief. Please contact MMA Legislative Director John Robertson at jrobertson@mma.org or 617-426-7272 x122 at any time if you have questions or need more details.

When you call your Representatives, please make sure to thank them for the proposals in the House budget to increase Unrestricted General Government Aid by $34 million (matching the Governor’s recommendation), for the $8.3 million increase intended to fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker, and for restoring $18.6 million to Kindergarten Development Grants.

Please Click Here to Download a Copy of the MMA’s Budget Letter to the House

Please Click Here to Visit the House Budget Website to See the Amendments: The House budget committee recommendation (H. 3400) and all proposed amendments are posted on the Legislature’s website at: http://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2016/House/ChamberActions

KEY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON SCHOOL AND EDUCATION FUNDING
Adequate Chapter 70 Minimum Aid for Municipal and Regional Schools
The MMA is calling for a sufficient funding increase for Chapter 70 school aid to ensure that all municipal and regional school districts are able to reach the “foundation” level of spending, implement the equity provisions adopted in 2006, and provide an adequate amount of minimum aid that ensures that all schools receive an increase in fiscal 2016.

The Governor proposed a fiscal 2016 Chapter 70 increase of $105.3 million, which includes minimum aid of only $20 per student for 245 cities, towns and school districts, an insufficient amount to maintain current school staffing and services.  The HW&M recommendation would increase minimum aid to $25 per student, but in reality this still leaves too many schools unable to maintain quality school programs.  Recognizing that the Foundation Budget Review Commission will not file its report until mid-2015, far past the deadline for inclusion in the fiscal 2016 state budget, the MMA is urging the House to adopt a higher minimum aid amount to prevent further erosion in school financing at the local level.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 663 filed by Rep. Cutler and others to increase the “minimum aid” amount to $50 per student.  This amendment would benefit 245 cities, towns and school districts, and give these communities a better chance of maintaining the quality of their existing education programming.

Reimbursements for Charter School Losses
The diversion of Chapter 70 school aid away from public schools to pay tuition to charter schools has imposed a major and growing financial burden on cities and towns, a problem made more acute as the state grants more charters and existing charter schools expand.  Local officials strongly support full funding of the Commonwealth’s commitment under section 89 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws to reimburse school districts for the loss of a portion of their Chapter 70 aid that is redirected to fund charter schools.

In fiscal 2015, it is expected that cities and towns will be forced to divert $444 million to fund charter schools, 10 percent of all Chapter 70 dollars.  This illustrates the importance of this issue to local governments, and why it is critical for the state to meet its commitment to this program.  The original $80 million appropriation in the fiscal 2015 general appropriations act was $30.5 million below the full funding amount required in the statutory formula, which was signed into law only a few years ago.  The problem has deepened with two rounds of 9C cuts to this account ($3.1 million), increasing the fiscal 2015 shortfall to at least $33.6 million.

The funding shortfall means that cities and towns are receiving only a fraction of the reimbursements due according to state law.  This is impacting a large number of communities, including some the state’s poorest and most financially distressed cities and towns.  Thus, the underfunding of the charter school reimbursement formula is harming the most vulnerable and challenged school districts and communities.

The Governor’s fiscal 2016 budget would level fund charter school reimbursements at $76.9 million, even though local payments to charter schools are expected to increase by $55 million.  Full funding of the statutory formula would require $130.5 million.  Without these funds, cities and towns will face another major shortfall next year, and result in cutbacks for the vast majority of students who remain in the traditional public school setting.  The HW&M budget includes the Governor’s recommendation for this account.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 822 filed by Rep. Ultrino and others, and Amendment 795 filed by Rep. Malia and others.  These critical amendments would fully fund charter school reimbursements due to cities, towns and regional school districts by providing the full $130.5 million necessary to meet the state’s obligation.

McKinney-Vento Homeless Student Transportation Costs
In fiscal 2013, the state budget provided $11.3 million to fully fund the state-mandated costs that resulted from the Commonwealth’s adoption of the federal McKinney-Vento Act. The State Auditor ruled that the McKinney-Vento program was an unfunded mandate on cities and towns, and the Legislature provided full funding soon after that ruling.  Under the program, communities are providing very costly transportation services to bus homeless students to schools outside of the local school district.  However, the fiscal 2014 state budget reduced McKinney-Vento reimbursements to $7.4 million, underfunding this state mandate.  Full funding for this year is estimated at $19.8 million, but the Commonwealth level-funded the program at $7.35 million, creating a shortfall of $12.5 million in the current fiscal year.

The Governor proposed a $1 million increase for fiscal 2016 to bring funding for McKinney-Vento reimbursements up to $8.4 million, which is the amount provided in H. 3400.  Full funding for this state mandate would require $20.8 million, according to the most recent DESE projection.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 620 filed by Rep. Heroux and others that would fully fund reimbursements due to municipalities and school districts for the cost of transporting homeless students from temporary shelters to school.

Regional School District Student Transportation Reimbursements
Funding for transportation reimbursements to regional school districts is vital to all regional districts and their member cities and towns, particularly in sparsely populated parts of the state.  The Legislature appropriated $70.3 million for fiscal 2015, but, unfortunately, Governor Patrick used his 9C powers to cut the amount in November by 27 percent, an unexpected $18.7 million loss, returning the program to fiscal 2014 levels just months after coming closer to full funding. Decades ago, the state promised 100 percent reimbursement as an incentive for towns and cities to regionalize, and the consistent underfunding of this account has presented serious budget challenges for these districts, taking valuable dollars from the classroom.  Governor Baker’s budget proposal would level-fund regional school transportation reimbursements at $51.5 million, dropping the reimbursement percentage down to 64 percent.  The House Ways and Means Committee would restore $5 million to this key program in fiscal 2016, and bring funding up to $56.5 million, a positive and helpful increase, yet still below the funding needed.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 744 filed by Rep. Benson and others that would increase transportation reimbursements to regional school districts by an additional $4 million to bring fiscal 2016 funding to $60.5 million.

Out-of-District Vocational Education Student Transportation
The fiscal 2015 state budget included $2.25 million item to reimburse communities for a portion of the $3.8 million cost of transporting students to out-of-district placements in vocational schools, as mandated by state law.  This account recognizes the significant expense of providing transportation services for out-of-district placements, as these students must travel long distances to participate in vocational programs that are not offered locally. Governor Patrick slashed all funding with his November 9C cuts, a painful mid-year loss.  The Governor’s fiscal 2016 recommendation and the HW&M budget do not include any funding.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 151 filed by Rep. Durant and others to fully fund the $3.9 million cost of transporting students to out-of-district placements in vocational schools.

Kindergarten Expansion Grants
Cities, towns and regional school districts across the Commonwealth use this important grant program to support full-day access to local kindergarten programs.  Funding for the program in the fiscal 2015 general appropriations act was $23.9 million before being reduced through two rounds of 9C cuts to $18.6 million.  The Governor’s budget recommendation would eliminate all funding in fiscal 2016, an extremely disruptive step that would force participating communities to immediately decide whether to end or scale back their current kindergarten programs or cut other school and classroom services.  The MMA applauds the recommendation in H. 3400 to restore funding for Kindergarten Development Grants to the fiscal 2015 post 9C level of $18.6 million, and is asking House members to restore the program to the original $23.9 million level.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 502 filed by Rep. DiNatale and others to level fund this accounts at the original fiscal 2015 appropriation.

KEY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON MUNICIPAL AID PROGRAMS AND
MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT POLICY

Please ask your Representatives to Oppose Amendment 601, Which Would Circumvent and Weaken Municipal Personnel Law by Allowing Tobacco Users to Qualify for the Public Safety Heart-Lung and Cancer Presumptions

Because of special provisions in state law that established a work-related presumption for heart and lung disease for public safety personnel, state law mandates a no smoking rule for public safety employees.  Under Chapter 32 of the General Laws, any police officer or firefighter with heart disease and any firefighter with lung disease or lung cancer is automatically eligible for a disability pension, but the enactment of these presumptions included an absolute ban on the use of tobacco products because smoking and tobacco use is the primary and overwhelming cause of heart and lung disease and cancer. Under Section 101A of Chapter 41, employees who violate this strict prohibition are subject to dismissal.  This has been the law since 1988.

But Amendment 601 would reverse 27 years of standing law and personnel policy, and instead mandate that a smoking cessation program be offered to those who violate the policy while keeping the presumption in place for these employees, in spite of their use of tobacco products.  All public safety personnel are aware of the no smoking rule, and violations must be addressed fully because the special treatment and protections that are in place were granted only on the condition that these employees refrain from tobacco use.  Amendment 601 would remove a very important taxpayer protection, and should be rejected.

• Please ask your Representatives to Oppose Amendment 601, which would significantly weaken the smoking prohibition for public safety employees.

Payments-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT)
The Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT) program is a particularly important program for the cities and towns that host and provide municipal services to state facilities that are exempt from the local property tax.  This account is underfunded at $26.77 million this year, and is still below fiscal 2008 funding.  Many of our state’s smallest communities rely heavily on PILOT payments, and shortfalls in this account have a significant impact on their ability to deliver basic municipal services.  House One and H. 3400 would level fund PILOT at $26.77 million.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 961 filed by Rep. D’Emilia to add $3.5 million to increase PILOT payments to cities and towns, and bring the account up to $30.3 million.

Shannon Anti-Gang Grants
• The Shannon Grant program has been very effective in enabling cities and towns to respond to and suppress gang-related activities.  Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 945 filed by Rep. Brady and others to increase funding for the Shannon anti-gang grant program.  This amendment would add $3.25 million and bring total funding up to $8.25 million, which is the original fiscal 2015 appropriation.

Safe and Successful Youth Initiative
• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 907, filed by Rep. Vega and others to increase funding of the Safe and Supportive Youth Initiative from $6 million to $9.5 million. The program seeks to reduce youth violence through wrap-around services for those most likely to be victims or perpetrators, and is vital to violence prevention efforts in dozens of communities.

Summer Jobs for At-Risk Youth
• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 572 filed by Rep. Scibak and others to increase funding for youth summer jobs from $9 million to $12 million. This funding is critical to providing employment opportunities for at-risk teenagers in our cities and towns, especially with youth unemployment rates climbing.

Protection of Municipal Emergency Medical Services
• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 1040 filed by Rep. Cantwell of Marshfield and others that would prevent the practice of “pay the patient,” by insurance companies, which undermines the ability of cities and towns to fund and operate responsive and efficient ambulance services that are at the core of emergency medical services in Massachusetts. “Pay the patient” would force communities to pursue their own residents to recoup thousands of dollars in ambulance expenses, a system that is inefficient and subject to abuse.  Amendment 1040 would also clarify that municipalities are authorized to set a fair rate for ambulance services. Cities and towns set fees and charges for a wide variety of municipal services very strictly limited by state law to the cost of providing the service. This is the same rule that would apply to rate setting for emergency ambulance services. It would ensure that rates are reasonable and prevent insurance companies from shifting costs to local property taxpayers through below-cost reimbursements.

KEY BUDGET AMENDMENTS ON CAPITAL SPENDING PRIORITIES

Brownfields Redevelopment Funds
• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 753 filed by Rep. Walsh and others to increase available funding for brownfield redevelopment projects.  This funding is critical to the successful redevelopment of former industrial sites and will enhance local economic development efforts across the state, and improve the environment.  This amendment would appropriate $15 million to recapitalize the Brownfield Redevelopment Fund.

Community Preservation Act Funding
During fiscal 2015, 156 cities and towns collected the local Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge and are eligible for state matching grants in fiscal 2016.  The Division of Local Services (DLS) estimates that the balance in the state trust fund will be sufficient to provide a first round match of only 18 percent of the surcharge levied by each city and town.  This would be the lowest state match in the program’s history.

• Please ask your Representatives to Support Amendment 881 filed by Rep. Kocot and others that would dedicate a portion of any fiscal 2015 year-end state budget surplus, up to $25 million, to supplement the fiscal 2016 state match.  The fiscal 2014 state match was supplemented by $25 million from the fiscal 2013 year-end surplus, and $11.4 million was made available last year from the fiscal 2014 surplus.

Please Call Your Representatives Today on the Budget Amendments that Impact Your Community!

 Thank You!

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Posted in Budgets, Legislature, State

MMA on House budget

Posted on April 16, 2015 | Comments Off on MMA on House budget

The annual state budget process starts with the Governor’s proposed budget, followed next by the House version, then next by the Senate version, and the final result from the House/Senate committee set up to resolve the two versions.  This year we are now up to the House version, and below is the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s comments on that House version.

To put state aid to towns in its recent context, while the state revenues have now recovered to be above the levels existing before the Great Recession, the state’s revenue sharing aid to municipalities still lags far behind the pre-2007 levels.  The general result of that lower state aid is that the state has effectively transferred to cities and towns the cost of providing the required municipal services.  Towns must then either opt to provide less service, or tax our residents more via property taxes to get the same level of service as before the Great Recession.

If residents do not like their property taxes rising, they should have a discussion with their state legislators to ask for a return to pre-2007 state aid levels.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE OFFERS $38B FY 2016 STATE BUDGET THAT MAKES KEY INVESTMENTS IN MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL AID
• INCLUDES THE FULL $34M INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID (UGGA)
• ADDS $8.3M TO SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER
• RESTORES $5M TO REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
• RESTORES $18.6 MILLION TO KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
• INCREASES CHAPTER 70 MINIMUM AID TO $25 PER STUDENT
• LEVEL-FUNDS MOST OTHER MUNICIPAL AND SCHOOL ACCOUNTS

Earlier this afternoon, the House Ways and Means Committee reported out a lean $38 billion fiscal 2016 state budget plan to increase overall state expenditures by 2.8 percent, as the state seeks to close a projected $1.8 billion structural budget deficit by restraining spending and eliminating 4,500 state jobs through an early retirement program. The House Ways and Means budget is $100 million smaller than the budget filed by Governor Baker in March.  The full House will debate the fiscal 2016 state budget during the week of April 27.

H. 3400, the House Ways and Means budget, provides strong progress on many important local aid priorities, including the full $34 million increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid that the Governor proposed and communities are counting on. The House W&M Committee would increase funding for several major aid programs, by adding $8.3 million to the Special Education Circuit Breaker, restoring $18.6 million to Kindergarten Development Grants, restoring $5 million to Regional School Transportation, and increasing Chapter 70 minimum aid from $20 to $25 per student.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE UNRESTRICTED GENERAL GOVERNMENT AID AND CHAPTER 70 AID AMOUNTS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AS PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE BUDGET

$34 MILLION INCREASE IN UNRESTRICTED MUNICIPAL AID
In a major victory for cities and towns, H. 3400 (the HW&M fiscal 2016 budget plan) would provide $979.8 million for UGGA, a $34 million increase over current funding – the same increase proposed by Governor Baker.  The $34 million would increase UGGA funding by 3.6 percent, which is 75 percent of the projected 4.8 percent increase 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 3.6 percent.

$8.3 MILLION INCREASE INTENDED TO FULLY FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION CIRCUIT BREAKER
In another victory for cities and towns, House leaders have announced that they support full funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker program.  Their budget plan would provide $261.7 million, an $8.3 million increase above fiscal 2015, with the intention of fully funding the account.  This is a vital program that every city, town and school district relies on to fund state-mandated services.

RESTORES $5 MILLION TO REGIONAL SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
Last November, former Gov. Patrick used his 9C budget powers to eliminate the $18.7 million increase regional school transportation reimbursements that the Legislature originally enacted for fiscal 2015, reducing the final amount to $51.5 million.  The Governor proposed level funding at $51.5 million.  Recognizing the importance of this funding, the House Ways and Means Committee budget would restore $5 million to bring regional transportation reimbursements up to $56.5 million.  The MMA will work to continue building on this welcome increase.

RESTORES $18.6 MILLION TO KINDERGARTEN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
The House Ways & Means budget would restore $18.6 million to the Kindergarten Development Grant program.  The Governor’s budget would have eliminated all funding, and House leaders want to level fund the current appropriation, at least for the next year.  This is an important account, because eliminating the $18.6 million would have jeopardized expanded kindergarten programs all throughout the state.

CHAPTER 70 MINIMUM AID WOULD INCREASE TO $25 PER STUDENT
The House budget committee is proposing a $108.2 million increase in Chapter 70 education aid, with a provision providing every city, town and school district an increase of at least $25 per student.  This is $2.9 million more than the recommendation in the Governor’s budget submission.  The budget would continue to implement the target share provisions enacted in 2007.  Because most cities and towns only receive minimum aid (245 operating districts in cities, towns and regions would only receive minimum aid), the MMA will work to build on this progress and will continue to advocate for higher funding.

McKINNEY-VENTO REIMBURSEMENTS WOULD INCREASE BY $1 MILLION
The House Ways and Means Committee budget would add $1 million to increase reimbursements for the transportation of homeless students to $8.4 million, the same funding level proposed in the Governor’s budget.  While the account remains below the full reimbursement called for under the state’s unfunded mandate law, it would be the first increase since fiscal 2013.

CHARTER SCHOOL REIMBURSEMENTS 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 2013 and 2014, but is underfunding reimbursements by approximately $34 million this year.  Both the Governor and the House Ways and Means budgets would level-fund charter school reimbursements at $76.8 million, which would guarantee another major shortfall in fiscal 2016, and result in cutbacks for the majority of students who remain in the traditional school setting.  Increasing this account will be a top priority during the budget debate.

PAYMENTS-IN-LIEU-OF-TAXES (PILOT), LIBRARY AID ACCOUNTS, METCO, AND SHANNON ANTI-GANG GRANTS
The House budget committee’s proposal would level fund PILOT payments at $26.77 million, continue to fund library grant programs at $18.5 million, and restore funding for METCO to $19.1 million.  All three of these accounts are funded the same in both the Governor and House Ways and Means budgets.  However, the HW&M budget would reduce Shannon Anti-Gang Grants to $5 million, a $2 million reduction.

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The Reps are coming!

Posted on February 25, 2015 | Comments Off on The Reps are coming!

The selectmen try to have regular visits/reports/consultations with our representatives in the legislature, but those visits seem to have become increasingly difficult to schedule.  They are no longer occurring on the quarterly basis as in the past.  Several recent scheduled dates had to be cancelled.

Evelyn emailed the selectmen this morning that they have next been scheduled to attend our March 24 meeting.  This was the email from Evelyn –

 

Good morning,

 

I received confirmation this morning that Senator Timilty and Representatives Garlick and Dooley will attend the Selectmen’s March 24 meeting.

 

Let’s keep our fingers crossed!!

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Posted in Legislature, Select Board matters

Sen & Reps to BoS on 1/27

Posted on January 9, 2015 | Comments Off on Sen & Reps to BoS on 1/27

Email this afternoon from Evelyn Clarke stating that “Representative Garlick’s office confirmed the meeting date for the Reps and Senator to attend your meeting is Tuesday Jan. 27.”

The selectmen seek to get regular updates from the Senator and Representatives, but scheduling seems to make it hard to get done more than twice a year.  I would like to be doing it at least quarterly.

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Posted in Legislature, Select Board matters

Medfield gets the rest of its road $

Posted on January 8, 2015 | Comments Off on Medfield gets the rest of its road $

Governor Patrick failed to release $100m. of appropriated road repair monies this fiscal year, as he did last fiscal year also, because the legislature failed to appropriate as much as he wanted for the transportation budget.  Governor Baker released those monies on his first day in office.

 

GOV. BAKER WILL RELEASE $100 MIL IN LOCAL ROAD FUNDS

By Matt Murphy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, JAN. 8, 2014…..Gov. Charlie Baker will make good on a campaign promise Thursday afternoon by making his first official action as governor to release $100 million for local road and bridge repairs.

The funding, which had been authorized by the Legislature but withheld by former Gov. Deval Patrick, will be dispersed to cities and towns to pay for local infrastructure projects.

Patrick released $200 million for Chapter 90 last year, but held back the additional funding because he said the borrowing capacity was needed for other transportation priorities.

Lawmakers were highly critical of Patrick’s decision not to release the funding, and Baker during the campaign pledged to release the funding as soon as he took office.

During his inaugural address, Baker on Thursday said he hoped to address a “spending problem” in state government to address a midyear budget gap that he estimated at more than $500 million.

Baker, who supported a November ballot law that unhinged the gas tax from an inflation index, said during his address that he would hold the line on taxes but that everything else was on the table in the upcoming budget-balancing exercise.

The governor must file a fiscal 2016 spending plan by March 4, though a proposal to address the midyear gap could be rolled out before that date.

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Posted in Budgets, Legislature, State, Transportation