budget cuts

Anyone who's been reading Boston.com's Budget Blues blog can see the connections between declining revenues, cuts in local aid and the ensuing cuts to libraries, schools, fire stations and other essential public structures.

Unfortunately, what many people in the state are perceiving is a series of incremental cuts that, when viewed discreetly, don't show the whole picture. People see potholes on the main street and blame their town government, rather than connecting the dots between diminished local capacity and the billions of dollars of tax cuts we enacted in Massachusetts over the last 15 years that have gutted local aid.

This is why the Joint Committee on Revenue's listening tour is so essential. We need to address these problems at the macro level. We need to connect the dots between the 9c cuts Gov. Patrick will likely announce and the obvious solution of additional revenue, which the state could raise by removing exemptions from the Tax Expenditure Budget.

Here are the tour dates:

Worcester - Tax Policy and the Challenges of Local Government
October 7th   
4:00pm to 6:00pm
The Academy at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Framingham - Tax Policy and Vulnerable Populations
October 13th
10:00am to 12:00pm
Framingham Senior Center

(more below)

Massachusetts residents are engaged in a conversation about what kinds of services they expect of their government and how they would chose to pay for it.

In Tyngsboro, town officials are dousing the steetlights on all but the busiest thoroughfares in an effort to save money. Residents are being offered the option of an adopt-a-streetlight program whereby they could pay to keep their favorite lights on.

The Hingham School Committee is considering implementing fee-based all-day kindergarten. In Belmont, a Harvard Business School professor is offering to poll residents on what services they're willing to pay for.

Cross posted from  A Healthy Blog by Brian Rosman

Michael Widmer and the Mass Taxpayers Foundation he heads have long been recognized as one of the preeminent authorities on the Massachusetts budget and spending levels. The Foundation’s analysis is considered honest and credible. When Mike Widmer speaks, people listen.

That’s why today’s Globe op-ed, “Health law costs aren’t the problem” by Widmer is so important. The Foundation has reviewed actual health reform spending, and corrects the common wisdom:

Almost Home, a model program, funded through the much maligned "earmark" tactic had won the support of some hard headed local pragmatic politicians, according to the Worcester Telegram

See on the  right  Board member Jen Sellitti and Margaret Guzman with Sheriff Guy Glodis and the Chief Public Defender Mike Hassey.

This money would have been an investment, not an expenditure,” said Sheriff Glodis, noting it cost between $30,000 and $40,000 annually to house a prisoner. “Once again, the government is being penny smart and pound foolish. Money would have been saved e pity.“xponentially, had funding for the program been approved.”

Another example of a good program that could be revived if we only had the political will to support an adequate balanced revenue package.

Shirley is a small town, and in a small town, the struggles that face larger communities appear out-sized. But it’s a microcosm of what’s beginning to happen to our state.
Today’s Sentinel and Enterprise describes how the town’s staff works four days a week to save on air conditioning and heating. Four of the town’s seven firefighters have been laid off and nine police officers ensure public safety seven days a week.
Students were already opting out of the elementary and middle schools in Shirley before the town laid off 15 staff members, increasing class sizes by 30 percent.
For years now as Massachusetts cities and towns have been struggling to balance their budgets, the mantra of anti-tax activists has been "find more savings." This call reflects a misinformed belief that deep, structural budget deficits can be closed by eliminating inefficiencies is like thinking one can pay rent by pulling pocket change from between couch cushions.

We are proud to post and recommend to you the most recent Budget Monitor from the Mass Budget and Policy Center.

The Governor’s budget proposal, “House 1,” presents his plan to close a $3.5 billion budget gap. This gap is the result of both the national recession and policy choices made over the past decade that have significantly reduced tax revenues in Massachusetts.

The Governor’s proposal would close almost half of the gap with spending cuts and reductions, and about a sixth of the gap with new revenues. The remaining $1.3 billion gap would be filled with money from temporary sources (the state’s stabilization fund and the emergency fiscal relief from the federal government).

Good quotes about about residents working together through their government:

And on the local level folk are struggling to define what kind of government they want and how they are going to pay for it. Check out this series of Letters to the Editor from Holbrook residents, followed by a very thoughtful clarifying comment. (When is the last time you read one of those?) .

The Missing Gems

Holbrook - To the Editor:

Although I am a senior citizen (being 85 years old does qualify me), I am writing as a citizen of Holbrook.

Cuts have to be made in the town’s budget and we must live with cuts. The override was turned down and we now have to live accordingly, but share the cuts across the board. Do not put the burden on one group.

We are in the process of losing two gems in this town.

First and foremost, there is the Holbrook Public Library, whose budget will be cut dramatically. The library is an incredible part of the wealth of our town. Toddlers get a taste at three years and younger of good books. Continue on and the entire library nurtures students of all ages. There are, of course, books, magazines, periodicals, DVDs, computers, and on and on.

This story in today's Globe, State's fiscal picture dims: Cuts, tax hikes may be on table, is very interesting. What I want to know is, where's the table, and isn't this a good time for community input into what kind of government we want and how we pay for it?

Scott Van Vooris in Wednesday's Herald suggests that the demise of the casino bill will spark a budget brawl..........a new era of tough financial choices, painful cuts and bickering over lost opportunities or .......

Maybe a statewide community conversation about the kind of government we want and how we pay for it. If not gambling revenues what? 

No deal, no money
Casinos’ demise to spark budget brawl
By Scott Van Voorhis   |   Wednesday, March 19, 2008  The likely demise of Gov. Deval Patrick's casino plan will usher in a new era on Beacon Hill of tough financial choices, painful cuts and bickering over lost opportunities, some lawmakers warn...................