TR-2012-58 OPPOSING CUTS TO LOCAL AID TR-2012-58
RESOLUTION OPPOSING
LEGISLATION ALLOWING FOR 9C
STATE CUTS TO LOCAL AID
(Sponsored by Councilor George Bitzas and the Legislative Sub-Committee)
WHEREAS, Governor Deval Patrick announced that the state is facing a $540 million
shortfall in its fiscal 2013 budget;
WHEREAS, Governor Deval Patrick announced that he proposed legislation to expand
his 9C authority so that he can cut $9 million or 1% from local aid to cities and towns;
WHEREAS, any cut-to local aid could potentially destabilize local budgets in the middle
of the fiscal year and force reductions in community services-,
WHEREAS, local aid has already been cut 32% or $416 million below original figal
2009 levels and any additional cuts will be painful for cities and towns A- oss e
-7c-)
commonwealth-,
WHEREAS, a cut in local aid from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts wousno
in the best interests of the Town of Agawam; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Agawam City Council We*reby —C)
strongly opposes the Governor's proposed legislation requesting expanded 9C powers to ""uce
non-executive agencies by 1%, including a 1% cut in local aid for every city and town. The
Agawam City Council further resolves to send a copy of this resolution to the Governor, our
state senator and our state representative.
Dated this 7+ day of i"Vils.X 2013.
PER ORDER OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
I
h n, President, Agawam City Council P
Chris�ophe_r C. Jo UO
APPROVED A TO FORM AND LEGALITY cc-
Vincent Gioscia, City Solicitor C
MAYORAL ACTION
Received this day of 2013 from Council Clerk.
Signed by Council President this I�� day ofkAW 2013.
APPROVAL OF LEGISLATION
By the powers vested in me pursuant to Article 3, Section 3-6 of the Aga Charter, as
arperided, I hereby approve the passage of the above legislation on this day of
2013.
Richard A. Cohen, Mayor
DISAPPROVAL OF LEGISLATION
By the powers vested in me pursuant to Article 3, Section 3-6 of the Agawam Charter, as
amended, I hereby veto the passage of the above legislation on this day of
2013 for the following reason(s):
Richard A. Cohen, Mayor
RETURN OF LEGISLATION TO COUNCIL CLERK
Returned to Council Clerk this dayof_d���, 2013.
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: FULL COUNCIL
FROM: COUNCILOR Gl--,'ORGE BITZAS
SUBJECT: rR-2012-58
DATh: DI--,'Cl--�'MI3F-'R 18, 2012
As you know, the Legislative Sub-Comnuittee met on Monday, December 17 h to
discuss 'IR-2012-58 which is a resolution opposing legislation allowing for 9C
state cuts to local aid. After a brief discussion, I asked for the comn-11ittee's
support and they overwhelmingly agreed. Not only did they support it, but
when I asked them to be co-sponsors of the resolution, the comrruittee strongly
agreed.
1, along with our Legislative Sub-Comn-littee, hope to see the SUMUnding
communities draft slrm*lar resolutions in a joint effort to avoid any further cuts to
local aid which could potentially destabilize local budgets in the middle of the
fiscal year and force reductions in community services.
Thank you and Happy Hohdays!
cc: Mayor, SoHcitor
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: FULL COUNCIL
FROM: COUNCILOIZ Gl--,'ORG]7. BITZAS
SUBJECT: 'f R-2012-58
DATE: 18, 2012
As you know, the Legislative Sub-Comn-littee met on Monday, December 17 h to
discuss TR-2012-58 which is a resolution opposing legislation allowing for 9C
state cuts to local aid. After a brief discussion, I asked for the committee's
support and they overwhelmingly agreed. Not only did they support it, but
when I asked them to be co-sponsors of the resolution, the cornnuttee strongly
agreed.
1, along with our Legislative Sub-Comrrtittec, hope to see the surrounding
communities draft simi'lar resolutions in a 'Joint effort to avoid any further cuts to
local aid wl-iich could potentially destabilize local budgets in the middle of the
fiscal year and force reductions in community services.
'I'hank you and Happy Hohdays!
cc: Mayor, Solicitor
TR-2012-58
RESOLUTION OPPOSING
LEGISLATION ALLOWING FOR 9C
STATE CUTS TO LOCAL AID
(Sponsored by Councilor George Bitzas)
WHEREAS, Governor Deval Patrick announced that the state is facing a $540 million
shortfall in its fiscal 2013 budget-,
WHEREAS, Governor Deval Patrick announced that he proposed legislation to expand
his 9C authority so that he can cut $9 million or I% from local aid to cities and towns:
WHEREAS, any cut to local aid could potentially destabilize local budgets in the middle
of the fiscal vear and force reductions in community services;
WHEREAS, local aid has already been cut 32% or $416 million below original fiscal
2009 levels and any additional cuts will be painful for cities and towns across the
commonwealth;
WHEREAS, a cut in local aid from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts would not be
in the best interests of the Town of Agawam; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Agawam City Council hereby
strongly opposes the Governor's proposed legislation requesting expanded 9C powers to reduce
non-executive agencies by 1%, including a 1% cut in local aid for every city and town. The
Agawam City Council further resolves to send a copy of this resolution to the Governor, our
state senator and our state representative.
Dated this day of 2013.
PER ORDER OF THE AGAWAM CITY COUNCIL
Christopher C. Jolinson, President, Agawarn City Council
rAjO:VtES LTOFOI RM AND LEGALITY
Vincent dioscia, City Solicitor
MMA Alert Contact: Pat Mikes 617-426-7272 ext. 131
IfW773FT 77
77 .7
GOVERNOR CITES S540M STATE BUDGET SHORTFALL IN
FY 2013
Gov. Implements S225M in Prouram Cuts Using His 9C Budget Powers
Reduces Municipal and Education Accounts by S28.75M
Gov. Files Bill with Legislature to Cut Unrestricted Local Aid by M
Earlier this afternoon, Governor Deval Patrick announced that the state is facing a $540 million shortfall in
its fiscal 2013 budget.. and he unveiled a plan to close the budget gap this year. He announced that he is
using his budget powers to implement $225 million ill immediate cuts to state-funded
programs in executive agencies under his control, and he proposed legislation to expand his 9C authority so
that he can cut $9 million, or 1%, from Unrestricted General Government Aid', as well as 1% cuts to the
judiciary, constitutional offices, and the Legislature. His plan would also withdraw $200 million from the
state's rainy day fund.
$28.75 MILLION IN IMMEDIATE CUTS TO KEY SCHOOL AND MUNICIPAL PROGRAMS
Using his existing authority to declare a fiscal emergency and reduce executive branch spending, generally
refer-red to as 9C powers, the Governor has unilaterally reduced funding for state agency accounts under his
control by $225 million. Many of these cuts will be painful for cities, towns and school districts. The MMA
has identified the local government accounts impacted the most, listed in order of the size of the mid-year
budget cut:
* S 11.5 million from the Special Education Circuit Breaker program (a 4.8% cut)
* $6 million from Municipal Regionalization and Efficiencies Incentive Grants (a 41.2% cut)
* $5.25 million from the McKinney-Vento homeless student transportation account (a 46.5% cut)
* S2.5 million from the Chapter 70 "Pothole" account (a 71.4% cut)
* $1.3 million from Veterans' Benefits reimbursements (a 2.9% cut)
* $1 million from Regional School Transportation (a 2.2% cut)
* $I million from Charter School Reimbursements (a 1.4% cut)
* $83 thousand from School-Based Health Programs (a 0.7% cut)
* $68 thousand from Universal Pre-Kindergarten (a 0.9% cut)
* $45 thousand from the Municipal Police Training Committee (a 1.8% cut)
* In addition. a shortfall in sales tax collections will reduce the total sales tax revenue amount that flows to
the School Building Assistance program by $20 million, which A&F officials say should not impact planned
projects (we recommend contacting SBA if you have a project pending to receive an update on the status of
your project and make sure there is no impact).
ASK YOUR LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE THE GOVERNOR'S LEGISLATION TO IMPOSE A $9
MILLION MID-YEAR CUT TO UNRESTRICTED GENERAL GOVERNMENT AID
In a move that surprised the Legislature and local officials, the Governor has filed legislation requesting
expanded 9C powers to reduce non-executive agencies by I%. This includes a proposal to have the
Legislature approve a 1% cut in Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) for every city and town, for
a 'd t I I
mi -year reduction of$9 million. The Governor's bill includes language saying that any unexpected
increases in Lottery profits would go to cities and towns before the end of the year, potentially offsetting a
portion of the cut, but this is no guarantee and, given the economy, very unlikely, The MMA will strongly
oppose any cut to unrestricted municipal aid, because that would destabilize local budgets in the middle of
the fiscal year, and force reductions in community services. Unrestricted municipal aid has already been cut
32%, or $416 million below original fiscal 2009 levels. and an), additional cuts will be painful for cities and
towns across the state.
Please Call Your RMUsentatives and Senators Today and Ask Them to Oppose the
Governor's $9 Million Cut to Municipal Aid.