Mayor Menino opened the meeting with a brief, straightforward assessment of the need for assistance to municipalities. He was followed by Governor Patrick who entered the room from a back door and exited the way he entered. The Governor’s presence and presentation was a stark contrast to the victor who entered the overflow auditorium to deafening applause in January 2007. The audience responded vigorously to his pledge to not balance the budget on the backs of towns and cities, although he offered no hope for improved local aid.
He speech entered the stump for casinos and even he looked tired of repeating the worn mantra. “…not the centerpiece of our economic strategy” then proceeded to spend the majority of his speech on the issue. The audience was lukewarm to the subject as it offers no real solutions to current fiscal challenges. The subject was an undercurrent throughout the weekend with a decidedly unenthusiastic reception by municipal leaders who comprehend what spittle the projected 300-400million in casino revenues is to the state budget. After mitigation there is nothing in it for towns and cities.
But, there was plenty of rhetoric about the local economy being the basis of economic health for the state. Plenty of warm air expended on statements about local services being the front-line and all that. The Globe dropped the ball on covering the event but their step-child the T&G (read the comments!) and the Springfield Republican captured a little flavor. The MMA summary is probably the most accurate/neutral report.
Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Suzanne Bump was one of the speakers who described her ethos in public service and said she was there to give her “sales pitch” on casinos. She was questioned on casinos and didn’t seem to have a grasp on the subject contradicting herself in describing casino jobs as 50K middle class jobs then answering a question about workforce development for people with special needs and thought these individuals could work in the “back of the house”. Umm…who pays to transport special needs individuals to the proposed three casino sites (which apparently is the Administration’s answer to all job creation, but not the centerpiece)? Will that come out of the mitigation funds too? Geoff Beckwith former state rep. and colleague of Ms. Bump, attempted to save the decaying dialog by asking a question about her call to public service. The word lame comes to mind.
Anyways, some good breakout sessions revealing that local officials know more than the experts on the challenges towns and cities are confronted with and have the skills but not the power to solve the problems. The formula for revenue sharing between the state and local government is broken. MMA supports a goal of a 40:60 split local:state and put together a nifty DVD in the closing session on the subject of municipal government.
Senator Kerry addressed the Mayors Association and spoke in the closing session as well. He was great. Centered, on topic and really got the pulse of the audience. He introduced his staff stressing his/their interest in hearing from local officials and he rendered a thoughful broadstroke summary of the challenges of creating change in DC. His presence and words were appreciated.
Cynicism was palpable and unfortunately, there has been an enormous erosion of support for the Governor by a strong block of constituents, local leaders.
One of reasons for the budget predicament of our cities and towns is the paucity of federal funds available to be funneled to them via the states. A major reason for the paucity is the 100’s of billions being spent on the Iraq war and the relentless gaming of the government to favor the weathy.
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p>Therefore I find it ironic that John Kerry offered such “appreciated” remarks. Kerry voted to enable the war that is burning up 100’s of billions of taxpayer dollars and Kerry ran a punchless campaign in 2004 that allowed W four more years to wreak fiscal havoc. Call me snarky, snide or sarcastic if you want, but these are the dots I connect.
Interesting that your post contained mention of the MMA Revenue Sharing Resolution that was passed but you did not mention the fact that the members of the MMA also passed as part of that resolution a measure of support for House Docket 4651, which would return some $450 million dollars that was diverted from the Lottery Fund to the state’s stabilization fund. This money, that was statutorily dedicated to the cities and towns by the statute that created the Lottery Commission, was withheld by the legislature when it instituted a “cap” on municipal aid during the period of 2002-2005.
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p>This $450 million dollar issue is a significant one for cities and towns across the Commonwealth. This one time revenue source would allow municipalities to catch up from declining state aid over the last six years and stave off the “Municipal Meltdown” crisis that is killing our local governments.
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p>This is not a partisan issue, though some would make it so. It is a legal issue. It is a moral issue. It is a fairness issue.
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p>Why doesn’t Governor Patrick support House Docket 4651? This would be an immediate way that he could help small towns with the burden of ever increasing property taxation at the local level.