Local Aid Resolution to be Filed
March 5, 2010
State Representative Lew Evangelidis (1st Worcester District) has announced that he and other members of the House will be offering a Local Aid Resolution during the House’s next full formal session and hopes his effort will garner support from the entire membership.
Evangelidis said, “It is no secret that FY11 will be as difficult, if not more challenging than the previous fiscal year. With our cities and towns working with reduced revenues and increased expenses, we should make every effort to provide them with reliable baseline information to construct local budgets. I fully recognize the challenges that face our local leaders when they must finalize a local budget prior to knowing what state aid is forthcoming.” Evangelidis continued, “This is a simple way that the legislature can provide substantial guidance to our towns for the upcoming fiscal year.”
The resolution proposes the following:
1. Establish a minimum level of Chapter 70 and Unrestricted Local Aid equal the amount proposed by the Governor for FY’11
a. The minimum Chapter 70 appropriation must equal $4,048,324,258 for FY11; and
b. The minimum Unrestricted Local Aid appropriation must equal $936,437,803.
2. Establish a minimum level of funding for each of the following accounts to equal the amount proposed by the Governor for FY’11
a. Reimbursement to Cities in Lieu of Taxes $27.3 million
b. Regional School Transportation $40.5 million
c. Special Education Residential Schools $135 million
This resolution provides among other things flexibility during budget debate, so that the Legislature might further increase local aid appropriations from an established floor. It also provides predictability for municipalities who are already constructing their budgets.
Evangelidis has been on the front lines protecting local aid for many years and recently met with the House Chairman of Ways and Means to discuss his priorities for this budget cycle. Evangelidis explained that his priorities remain the same as in years past by supporting local aid, education funding, regional school transportation and PILOT. He further explained that he will not be requesting any earmarks and has reaffirmed his position that the Commonwealth should construct its budget without utilizing any additional taxes, fees or surcharges on the working families of Massachusetts.