Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The new budget will affect state aid in both towns.
Last Wednesday, Governor Patrick submitted his $34.8 billion budget to the Legislature. The proposed income tax hike is part of a comprehensive package aimed at investing in the state's infrastructure and in driving growth, Patrick said. Take a look at how the numbers affect both Reading and North Reading: FY 2013 Cherry Sheet Estimate FY 2014 Gov. budget ($) According to Assistant Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Chapter 70 funding state-wide was increased by 5.4 percent, but Reading only saw a 1.1 percent increase. "General government state-wide was increased by 3 percent state-wide in a new annual formula local aid line item, which is based on the wealth of the community and ‘ability to pay’. Reading saw an increase of 2.9 percent or $79k…
Friday, December 7, 2012
Reading could lose $27K, North Reading $15K and possibly some funding for the school building project due to the half-billion proposal Gov. Deval Patrick released Tuesday.
While Reading officials believe that the town will not see a significant impact due to the half-billion worth of cuts that Gov. Deval Patrick proposed on Tuesday in anticipation of the "fiscal cliff" combined with projected state tax revenues that are more than $500,000 lower than previously expected, North Reading may see an impact, especially when it comes to the state budget for the school building project. Reading Assistant Town Manager Robert W. LeLacheur does not think that Reading will be greatly affected by Patricks proposal, however, officials need to look at the cuts more closely. "We’ll be discussing this next week with the selectmen on Tuesday and the FINCOM on Wednesday in more detail," Assistant Town Manager Robert W. …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Killing of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire helped gain support for Melissa's Bill, which limits parole eligibility for convicted violent repeat offenders.
With the fate of Melissa's Bill solely in Gov. Deval Patrick's hands Tuesday, the governor made a decision at 2:30 p.m. this afternoon. "I will sign this bill," he said. Melissa's Bill, named for Melissa Gosule who was killed by a violent repeat offender who was out on parole, has been in the works for years. But it was the killing of Woburn Police Officer Jack Maguire on Dec. 26, 2010 that spurred more support for the bill. Officer Maguire responded to an armed robbery at Kohl's in the middle of a blizzard. When he stopped the suspect, a paroled repeat offender with several convictions for robbery and violence against police officers, gunfire was exchanged. Officer Maguire was killed, as was the suspect. Chuck Maguire, Officer Maguire's …
Friday, February 24, 2012
Should the money the state hasn't had to spend on snow removal this year go to the MBTA as the Governor proposes, or do you have other ideas for it?
With a winter of record high temperatures at least partially behind us, the state government has only used about $10 million of the $50 million set aside for snow and ice removal, according to a Fox News article. Governor Deval Patrick has stated on record he'd like to give that money to the MBTA. As he says in this Patriot-Ledger article, "We’ve had a good and calm and relatively snow-free winter so far. If the winter continues as it has been, there will be unspent snow and ice budget. That may be part of the one-year fix." The fix he is referring to is the MBTA's estimated $161 million projected budget deficit for fiscal year 2013, but we at Patch are wondering if you see other things that need fixing. Education? Local aid? Small …
Joe Veno
10:34 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
@ Tired of the Whining. You mention the "guaranteed percentage" from the State. Just so you are aware there never was any "guarantee" on what we will get reimbursed. Let me be clear on this issue. I am for the project at the original cost we were told. You may be tired of hearing the whining and that is fine. If people did not want this they should of came out and voted against it but they do … more ›