Will Brownsberger — State Senator, Democrat, 2d Suffolk and Middlesex District

The Governor released local aid numbers last week. Most communities see little change, but a few communities, including Arlington, see substantial Chapter 70 increases.

While I voted against the gambling bill, I think that we got a number of other good things done in this session. The biggest may be the redistricting plan which has been widely praised for the increase it creates in the number of districts from which minority candidates may potentially be elected.

One special thing about special education is that it is extremely expensive. State auditor Suzanne Bump has released  scathing critiques of three special education collaboratives in Massachusetts, detailing misuse of millions of dollars of funds. I first heard the story reported on WBUR. Now I fear that more shoes may drop. My question to Will: [...]

The Governor has signed the budget, making no spending changes and relatively few changes in “outside sections.” He did send back the municipal health care reform provisions with four narrow changes.

Highlights of the final budget include good local aid results, strong municipal health reform, limited spending with no new taxes, moderate reforms of the public counsel system and relatively good funding for a number of high priority human services.

The final budget comes in at the high side of expectations as to local aid.

There are several items of local concern in the Senate Ways and Means Draft Budget released yesterday.

I’ll be reporting on budget issues to the Belmont town meeting on May 9.

Many state agencies have taken very deep cuts, but local aid, health and human services programs have largely been protected.

The House Ways and Means Budget does not adopt the Governor’s proposal to fold the Committee for Public Counsel Services into the Executive Branch and eliminate bar advocates (contract attorneys), replacing them with 1000 new hires. It does attempt some cost-savings in indigent representation.

The House Ways and Means budget includes a relatively strong form of the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s plan design proposal.

The House Ways and Means Committee released its budget draft today. It matches the Governor’s local aid numbers.

I sent my annual priorities statement to the House Ways and Means Committee today.

The special education circuit breaker is a possible source of additional funds for local school budgets in Fiscal 2012 budget cycle.

Key resources on this issues include: Mass Taxpayers Foundations report on municipal liabilities. Pioneer Institute White Paper: The Elephant in the Room:  Unfunded Public Employee Health Care Benefits and GASB 45.  Actuarial Valuation Reports for the Commonwealth.  Federal Reserve Bank overview brief..

In a presentation this evening to the Belmont Board of Selectmen, I will be discussing the outlook for local aid. I will also be discussing prospects for legislation on employee benefit costs and on education innovation.

Will, thanks for posting the governor’s numbers in detail…and even in Excel.  Very helpful as we try to forecast FY2012 revenue.

The Governor released his fiscal 2012 budget last week. Proposed local aid cuts are not as bad as many had feared, but the final outcome of the budget process remains very uncertain at this stage.

I can’t help but view the recent riots in England and Greece in the same way as I do a child creating a ruckus in Whole Foods’ after learning he won’t be getting a chocolate candy after all.  While there may be many explanations for the behavior of the rioters and the child, I contend [...]

State revenues have dropped down to a new, lower trend line. We cannot expect to return to pre-recession spending levels.