Governor’s budget would reduce Medfield’s local aid by 1% only

Massachusetts Department of Revenue

Division of Local Services

FY2012 Local Aid Estimates

MEDFIELD


FY2011 Cherry Sheet Estimate FY2012 Governor’s Budget (H1) Difference
Education:      
Chapter 70* 5,590,203 5,620,214 30,011
School Transportation 0 0 0
Charter Tuition Reimbursement 9,307 2,260 -7,047
Offset Receipts:      
School Lunch 9,744 10,893 1,149
School Choice Receiving Tuition 0 0 0
Sub-Total, All Education Items 5,609,254 5,633,367 24,113
       
General Government:      
Unrestricted General Government Aid 1,226,088 1,137,437 -88,651
Local Share of Racing Taxes 0 0 0
Regional Public Libraries 0 0 0
Police Career Incentive 7,305 6,813 – 492
Urban Renewal Projects 0 0 0
Veterans’ Benefits 1,215 520 – 695
State Owned Land 30,265 30,153 – 112
Exemptions: Vets, Blind, Surviving Spouses

& Elderly

27,349 26,482 – 867
Offset Receipts:      
Public Libraries 13,685 13,336 – 349
Sub-Total, All General Government 1,305,907 1,214,741 -91,166
 
Total Estimated Receipts 6,915,161 6,848,108 -67,053
     

 

 

 

*FY2011 Chapter 70 does not include State Fiscal Stabilization Funds of $30,011.

New selectman info – my report on meetings – see http://wp.me/pwOp1-6c. Let me know if this is useful, as if not I will not take the time.

Highlights of selectmen meetings on 1/25/11 & 2/1/11

The board of selectmen met twice this past week, first on January 25, 2011 (a makeup session for the prior week which had been snowed out). That meeting was abbreviated so that the selectmen could attend the Lyme disease study committee meeting which followed., To allow amounts to be spent on snow removal above and beyond what had been budgeted. The following budgets were submitted for review, all of which were level funded from last year: Board of Selectmen, Town Administrator, Human Resources, Work Committee, Planning Board, Zoning Appeals, Town Report/Meeting.

On February 1, 2011 selectmen reviewed the Park and Recreation budget, in which $298,000 was requested as opposed to $283,874 last year. The increase was primarily for maintenance of facilities. John Thompson, chair of SHERD, reported on four areas of environmental cleanup by DCAM at the former Medfield State Hospital site. First, DCAN is performed to new work. Second, the VOCs that were found may require DCAM to redraw the lot boundaries to exclude areas in which the VOCs were found. Third, the building condition status should be queried, given that the buildings have been cold mothballed far longer than anticipated. John referenced the DEP consent judgment against DMH which required the asbestos to be removed from the buildings “as soon as possible.” Fourth, given the impending development of the site, he recommended that it behooves the town to review its bylaws to make sure that the bylaws adequately address that development. The board voted to create a bylaw review committee and to task town counsel to that committee. Interested citizens are invited to apply to serve on that committee. Additionally, John noted that DCAM must submit its draft Phase II Scope of Work by March 1, 2011, and it is that document that will detail precisely what cleanup work will be done and how.

The selectmen voted to send the draft letter to DCAM Re: the Supplemental Phase II Scope of Work. Selectable voted to sign a letter of representation with the town auditor to approve minutes, and to close the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.

The Annual Town Meeting Warrants include articles to authorize borrowing for a town garage, feasibility study for a public safety building accept as public ways Kettle Pond and Cole Drive, amend site plan buffer cards to prohibit use as driveways, amend firearm discharge by law to allow for culling deer to reduce Lyme disease, transfer Hinckley Swim Pond lands to Park and Recreation and allow the lease of the Lowell Mason house site, authorize leases to MAP, appropriate consultant monies for State Hospital reuse, and to qualify for the Green Communities Act by adopting the stretch building code and permitting energy R&D and manufacturing on industrial lands.

Selectmen Fisher and Peterson reported on attending the Massachusetts Municipal Association annual meeting. The governor and his chief budget officials presented on the state budget, and there were a myriad of workshops on municipal issues. It was reported as a inspirational and informational meeting. All selectmen attended the Lyme disease study committee meeting at which the state wildlife biologist documented the overpopulation of deer in Medfield and that the only financially feasible means of reducing Lyme disease is by culling the deer. Selectmen Thompson and Peterson attended the Safety Committee, which focused on high traffic volumes and speeds on Knollwood Road, and a new regional selectmen effort in Medway. Peterson reported that the Medfield Foundation will be holding a reception to recognize volunteers on March 27 at The Center from 4 to 6 PM, and that he attended a Riverside Community Care meeting to highlight its emergency crisis response services to assist municipalities with people having psychiatric issues.

If you need to clear roof edge to prevent ice dam water damage, I’m leaving my snow roof rake outside my garage – please feel free to borrow

Weekly Political Report – Week Ending January 28, 2011

Week Ending January 28, 2011

 

Earlier today House Speaker Robert DeLeo named his new leadership team for the 2011 session. Rep. James Vallee (D-Franklin), Majority Leader from last session, will be replaced by Rep. Ron Mariano (D-Quincy). Also, Rep. Brian Dempsey (D-Haverhill) was named the new House Ways and Means Chair. Last session’s House Ways and Means Chair Charles Murphy (D-Burlington) will remain in leadership as the new assistant Majority Leader. Rep. Patricia Haddad (D-Somerset) will serve as Speaker Pro Tempore (last session she was second assistant Majority Leader) and Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein (D-Revere) will act as the new second assistant Majority leader. The former speaker pro tempore, Rep. Thomas Petrolati (D-Ludlow), resigned from his post earlier this session. See below for a complete list of House leadership and committee chairs appointments.

On Wednesday, Governor Patrick released his Fiscal Year 2012 budget recommendations. In order to close the estimated $1.2 billion gap between current spending levels and expected revenue, the Governor’s proposed $30.5 billion budget is balanced with roughly $570 million in spending cuts, including the elimination of 900 state jobs, and several revenue raising policy changes. The Patrick Administration highlighted that the budget relies on only $385 million in one-time revenues, compared to $3.2 billion in FY2009–$1.5 billion of which was federal stimulus funds. As promised in the State of the Commonwealth Address that he delivered two weeks ago, Patrick’s budget did not cut Chapter 70 education funding, which goes to cities and towns across the state. However, he did recommend $65 million in local aid cuts. The House will consider the Governor’s budget now and work to release its own proposed FY2012 budget in April.

House and Senate members filed 5,388 bills last week for the 2011-2012 session. This represents a 10% drop from two years ago when over 6,000 bills were filed. This session 1,866 bills were filed in the Senate and 3,522 in the House. The House and Senate Clerks offices are currently processing the bills and will begin assigning them to relevant legislative committees, based on subject matter, over the next two weeks.

 

On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue released the tax collection figures for the first half of January.  The state collected $948 million during this period, an increase of 7.4% from the same period one year earlier. According to Navjeet Bal, the state revenue commissioner, total state tax collections through the first six months of the year are up 9.9%.  Although tax receipts continue to exceed expectations, much of the unexpected revenue is being funneled back into the state budget in order to pay for unexpected costs such as the state Medicaid program.

 

The seasonally adjusted unemployment figures were released this week and showed that the unemployment rate was up in half of the 22 geographic regions in the state. According to the new numbers, the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 8.2% held steady from November to December. While New Bedford and Worcester added jobs, Springfield, Peabody and Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford all experienced job losses. Since December 2009, Massachusetts has added 45,600 jobs and the unemployment rate has fallen from 9.3% to 8.2%.

House Leadership and Committee Chair Appointments

Leadership:

Majority Leader, Rep. Ron Mariano

Assistant Majority Leader, Rep. Charles Murphy

Second Assistant Majority Leader, Rep. Kathi-Ann Reinstein

Speaker Pro Tem, Rep. Patricia Haddad

 

House Ways and Means Chairman, Rep. Brian Dempsey

Vice-Chairman of House Ways and Means, Rep. Stephen Kulik

Assistant Vice-Chair of House Ways and Means, Rep. Martha Walz

 

Division Chairs are Reps. Garrett Bradley, Byron Rushing, Ellen Story and new division chair Rep. Paul Donato

 

Chairmanships:

Joint Committee on Education, Rep. Alice Peisch
Joint Committee on Veterans Affairs, James Vallee
Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, Rep. Joseph Wagner

Joint Committee on Transportation, Rep. William Straus

Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Committee, Rep. Steven Walsh

Joint Committee on Financial Services, Rep. Michael Costello

Joint Committee on Public Safety, Rep. Hank Naughton

Joint Committee on Judiciary, Rep. Eugene O’Flaherty,

House Committee on Ethics, Rep. Martin Walsh

Joint Committee on State Administration, Rep. Peter Kocot

Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, Rep. Anne Gobi

Joint Committee on Revenue, Rep. Jay Kaufman

Joint Committee on Higher Education, Rep. Thomas Sannicandro

Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, Rep. Michael Kane

Joint Committee on Public Service, Rep. John Scibak

Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development Rep. Sarah Peake

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy Committee, Rep. John Keenan

Joint Committee on Rules, Rep. John Binienda

Joint Committee on Children and Families, Rep. Kay Khan

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection, Rep. Ted Speliotis

Joint Committee on Community Development, Rep. Linda Dorcena Forry

Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, Rep. Alice Wolf

Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera

Joint Committee on Public Health, Rep. Jeff Sanchez

Joint Committee on Housing, Rep. Kevin Honan

House Committee on Bills in the 3rd Reading, Rep. Vincent Pedone

House Committee on Bonding and Capital Expenditures, Antonio Cabral

House Committee on Personnel and Administration, Rep. William Galvin

House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, Rep. David Linsky

House Committee on Steering and Policy, Louis Kafka

House Committee on Global Warming, Rep. Frank Smizik

 

 

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

 

 

Governors budget numbers for Medfield

Just fyi from the Governors budget.   john

 

Municipality/Regional District 7061-0008 Chapter 70 Unrestricted General Government Aid Potential Total Section 3 Local Aid (Contingent Upon Allocation of Federal Funds)
MEDFIELD (FY’11 numbers) $5,937,045.00 $1,277,175.00 $7,214,220.00
Governors FY $5,620,214.00 $1,137,437.00 $0.00
House Budget $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Senate Budget $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Conference Committee $0.00 $0.00 $0.00

 

 

 

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

 

Weekly Political Report – Week Ending January 21, 2011

Week Ending January 21, 2011

Governor Patrick held a press conference this afternoon to discuss reforms aimed at helping municipalities deal with the rising costs of providing health insurance to their employees. The Governor announced a health insurance plan design proposal that would require cities and towns to join the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) or a program of similar cost. Patrick said that municipalities would also be required to move eligible retirees into Medicare. According to the Patrick administration, this would save cities and towns an estimated $15-30 million annually. Patrick indicated that the budget he releases next week will reduce local aid by $65 million from FY11, but that he anticipates that the cuts will be offset by efficiencies created in his proposal.

According to a Patrick administration jobs report, Massachusetts lost 2,100 jobs in December while the unemployment rate remained at 8.2%. Prior to this month, the unemployment rate had decreased for two consecutive months. The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced that accommodation and food services sector lost 4,100 jobs, while the arts community gained 2,500 jobs. The unemployment rate in Massachusetts is still below the national rate of 9.8% and also represents a drop from the Commonwealth’s peak rate of 9.5%.

Yesterday Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) announced her leadership team and the new Senate Committee chairs for the 2011 session. The most significant appointment was Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) who was named Chair of the Senate Ways and Means. Sen. Brewer was formerly vice-chair and he will be succeeded by the new vice-chair Senate Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen). Much of Senate President Murray’s leadership team will stay the same: Sen. Fred Berry (D-Peabody) as Majority Leader, Sen. Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst) as Senate President Pro Tem; Sen. Steven Tolman (D-Brighton) will serve as the new assistant majority leader and Sen. Jack Hart (D-South Boston) will serve as Majority Whip. House Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) has not named the corresponding House Committee chairs but is expected to do so either next week or the following week.

Additional Senate Committee Chairs are listed below:

Chair, Senate Ways and Means: Sen. Stephen Brewer (D-Barre)

Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means: Senate Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen)

Asst Vice Chair, Senate Ways and Means:  Sen. Jennifer Flanagan (D-Leominster)

Joint Committee on Steering and Policy: Sen. Jennifer Flanagan (D – Leominster)

Senate Committee on Ethics and Rules:  Sen. Fred Berry (D – Peabody)

Joint Committee on Election Laws:  Sen. Barry Finegold (D-Andover)

Joint Committee on Financial Services: Sen. Anthony Petruccelli (D-Boston)

Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development: Sen. Eileen Donoghue (D-Lowell)

Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development: Sen. Daniel Wolf (D-Harwich)

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy: Sen. Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield)

Joint Committee on Transportation: Sen. Thomas McGee (D-Lynn)

Joint Committee on Education: Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz (D-Boston)

Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government: Sen. James Welch (D-West Springfield)

Joint Committee on Health Care Financing: Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge)

Joint Committee on Elder Affairs: Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville)

Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate Committee on Bills in Third Reading: Sen. Cynthia Creem (D-Newton)

Joint  Committee on Public Safety: Sen. James Timilty (D – Foxborough)

Joint  Committee on Public Health: Sen. Susan Fargo (D-Lincoln)

Joint Committee on Public Service: Sen. Katherine Clark (D-Melrose)

Joint Committee on Higher Education: Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury)

Senate Committee on Redistricting: Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst)

Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs: Sen. Michael Rush (D-West Roxbury)

Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities: (Sen. Michael Rodrigues- Westport)

Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business: Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D- Everett)

Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets: Sen. Brian Joyce (D-Milton)

Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse: Sen. John Keenan (D-Quincy)

Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture: Sen. Marc Pacheco (D-Taunton)

Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure: Sen. Thomas Kennedy (D-Brockton)

Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight: Sen. Ken Donnelly (D – Arlington)

Joint Committee on Revenue: Sen. Gale Candaras (D-Wilbraham)

Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight: Sen. Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford)

Joint Committee on Housing: Sen. James Eldridge (D-Acton)

.

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

Weekly Political Report – Week Ending January 14, 2011

Week Ending January 14, 2011

 

This Saturday marks the deadline for Governor Patrick and the Senate and House Democratic leadership to reach a consensus on the tax revenue collection estimate that will inform the FY2012 budget. The estimate will be used to allocate funds for the upcoming fiscal year that starts on July 1, 2011. Tax revenues for the current fiscal year are $750 million above benchmarks. However, since FY2011 began, the Governor and the Legislature have authorized about $750 million in supplemental spending. Further, it has been estimated that the state is facing a $1.5 – $2 billion budget deficit for FY2012.  According to Senate President Murray, an agreement on tax revenue collection estimates is expected by next week. The Governor will file his FY2012 budget the week after next.

 

Following up on his speech during the swearing in of new members last Wednesday, Speaker DeLeo elaborated on his legislative priorities in greater detail this week. According to DeLeo, before tackling major spending issues such as health care payment reform and the state budget, the Legislature should take up reforms to the Massachusetts probation and parole systems.   Speaker DeLeo said that in light of recent controversies with the Probation Department and the state’s Parole Board, regaining the public’s trust in these institutions is of paramount importance to the Legislature.

 

On Thursday, Governor Patrick accepted the resignations of five members of the Massachusetts Parole Board, including the board’s chairman, Mark Conrad. The five members of the board resigned after Dominic Cinelli, who they had all voted to grant parole to in 2008, attempted to rob a bank and murdered a police officer last month. This sparked an investigation into why Cinelli was granted parole in the first place. According to a report conducted by the Undersecretary of Public Safety John Grossman, the Parole Board did not receive complete information prior to granting Cinelli parole. In response to this, Governor Patrick made his intention clear this week to file legislation that would strengthen sentencing guidelines for habitual offenders. This would include a requirement that a third serious felony conviction would mean an offender receives the maximum prison term.

 

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) released the findings of the survey they use to measure business confidence in the state this week.  The survey showed a .3% rise since November, bringing the confidence level to 52.4%. A score of 50 is considered neutral and any rating above 50 signifies generally positive sentiments about business confidence in the state. For the 4th quarter of 2010, the average reading was 53.3, compared to 47.9 for same period in 2009. If the business confidence in the state stays at its current level, it will be at its highest level since the end of 2007. The index reached its all time low in February 2009.

 

 

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

Weekly Political Report – Week Ending January 7, 2011

Week Ending January 7, 2011

 

Governor Patrick gave his Inaugural Address on Thursday this week, after he took the oath of office administered by Senate President Murray earlier in the afternoon. In outlining his priorities, the Governor emphasized his commitment to creating new jobs, strengthening schools and reducing health care costs. He said that his first priority will be to file legislation in the coming weeks that seeks to lower health care costs in the state. He also alluded to the need to address pension reform, sentencing laws and tax code simplification.

 

The 46 new members of the House and Senate and their returning colleagues were sworn in on Wednesday for the 187th session of the General Court. Democrats nominated Speaker Robert DeLeo (D – Winthrop) for House Speaker and he was re-elected along party lines by a vote of 128-31. In his speech, Speaker DeLeo said that he would focus on passing expanded gaming legislation and moving municipal employees into the state’s health insurance pool.  DeLeo also stated that the House would not raise any taxes this year.  Following DeLeo’s speech, Governor Patrick said he hadn’t spoken to DeLeo about gaming legislation in months and didn’t expect any quick movement on the issue this year.

 

Senator Therese Murray (D – Plymouth) was also re-elected as Senate President on Wednesday. During her address, Murray said that health care cost control, small business growth and efficient government would be her priorities during the upcoming legislative session. Although Murray did not mention it in her speech, she later made clear her commitment to not raising taxes.

 

On Tuesday, Governor Patrick signed a $330 million midyear spending bill. The legislature passed the bill last week in response to unexpected budget issues including the rapid expansion of the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth). Included in the bill that Governor Patrick signed is $194 million for MassHealth, $50 million for children’s behavioral health services and $8.5 million for operations at the State Legislature.

 

On Monday, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue released the tax collection figures for the second half of December. The state collected over $2 billion during the month of December, a 9.8% increase from the same period one year earlier. Navjeet Bal, the state revenue commissioner, said that the numbers represented clear signs of an economic recovery in Massachusetts.

 

 

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org

 

 

Weekly Political Report – Week Ending December 30, 2010

Week Ending December 30, 2010

The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $330.1 million spending bill earlier today. The spending bill is in response to unexpected growth in the state’s Medicaid program (MassHealth). In addition to the $194 million allocated for MassHealth, $50 million will be allocated for children’s behavioral health services and $8.5 million for operations at the State Legislature. In terms of the breakdown, $172.8 million will come from the state of Massachusetts while the remaining $157.3 will be paid with federal reimbursements. State tax collections are presently $500 million above projections for the fiscal year, although the sales tax holiday in August resulted in $20 million less in tax revenues. Only a small number of members were on hand to vote for the spending bill and no debate was conducted. The Senate is expected to take up the spending bill later this afternoon.

 

The blizzard that blanketed Massachusetts with two feet of snow on Sunday and Monday will cost the state $14 million to clean up. According to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, the total cost for the cleanup through Tuesday of this week was $14.4 million. The bulk of the cost is attributed to keeping almost 4,000 pieces of equipment on the roads during the peak overnight hours. MassDOT said that $2.8 million went to pay for materials such as salt and sand while $650,000 paid for overtime costs to employees. 8,000 residents lost power through mid-morning on Tuesday while another 3,000 did not have power restored until after Tuesday evening. Boston reportedly received 18.2 inches of snow, the 10th largest snowfall since 1892. MassDOT allocated $59.3 million for snow and ice removal in its fiscal 2011 budget.

 

 

John Nunnari, Assoc AIA
Executive Director, AIA MA
jnunnari@architects.org
617-951-1433 x263
617-951-0845 (fax)

MA Chapter of American Institute of Architects
The Architects Building
52 Broad Street, Boston MA 02109-4301
www.architects.org