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.

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 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.

Will, Seeing the budget situation is fluid I had a few questions related to Belmont and State funds. The Belmont Schools have budgeted approximately $1.1m for increases in the SPED budget. About $530,000 of that is lost stimulus funding and the balance is a projected 11% increase in y/y SPED costs based on historical data [...]

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 [...]

The conference committee negotiating a municipal relief package reported a bill last night and the House accepted the report on what turned out to be straight party line vote.

Hi Will – you may remember that the state has been through bad times before and there were lots of creative ways of saving money. I was reminded of one way today in a discussion with a colleague from Canada — it’s quite simple — you can cut upwards of $2mm from the budget by eliminating [...]

The state’s stabilization (or “rainy day”) fund is designed to buoy the state through tough economic times, and it has certainly been used in the recent recession.  This post will examine the set-up of the fund, the recent history of its use, and its future in getting the state through the Great Recession. The stabilization [...]

Recent actions by the United States House of Representatives may result in new cuts in all state accounts, including local aid.

Local aid totals are unchanged for communities in the Senate Ways and Means budget.