Middleboro's potential aid amount is included in the legislation below:
December 11, 2007
Dear Municipal Official:
As your elected leaders on Beacon Hill, we fight hard to strengthen and protect communities whenever possible. In our opinion, the best choice we can make is to invest in our municipalities and the services they provide.
Much of our legislative agenda every year is focused on dedicating more resources to cities and towns and on cutting costs that burden local budgets. Recently, we took a giant step forward with these efforts by filing a bill to increase direct local aid this year.
Please allow us to tell you a bit more about this legislation.
We recognize that when lottery aid was “capped” from 2003-2005, the state forced cities and towns to deplete their local stabilization funds by $450 million. At the time, the state justified this as a necessary step to help our state get through difficult financial times. But hindsight shows that withholding this much money was not necessary. At the same time that cities and towns were taking money out of their stabilization funds, the state Rainy Day Fund actually went up. In fact, it doubled in size.
Now, the state Rainy Day Fund is worth more than $2 billion. That’s more money than we reasonably could expect to need if tough times come again. We believe it’s time to give this money back to cities and towns.
A few weeks ago, our caucus filed a bill designated as House Docket 4651. The bill would distribute $450 million to cities and towns as a one-time local aid payment. The distribution of money to each community would be based on the lottery formula, and as with traditional lottery aid, all payments would be unrestricted in use on the local level.
Please take a moment to review the attached legislation and see what your community would stand to receive if the bill is passed.
Our state ended last year with a budget surplus of almost a half a billion dollars, and recently the Patrick administration increased revenue forecasts for this fiscal year by $400 million. This gives us an opportunity to stop ignoring the diversion of money from cities and towns over the past few years and to do something positive to address it. Local services and property taxpayers alike are counting on having House Docket 4651 passed into law.
Unfortunately, not all of our legislative colleagues agree. Right now, House Docket 4651 is in the Rules Committee, and unless pressure is brought to bear on leadership to release the bill to the full House for action, it most likely never will get the consideration it deserves.
If you support additional funding for local services, please help us get House Docket 4651 passed into law. The first step is to encourage House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and Angelo Scaccia, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, to refer the bill to an appropriate joint committee. Otherwise, the House and Senate will not even be able to debate the bill. We are working with our colleagues in that regard, but it would be helpful for them to hear from you directly. Should you wish to voice your support for House Docket 4651, you may contact Speaker DiMasi and Chairman Scaccia at the following addresses:
Salvatore DiMasi, Speaker of the House
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The State House, Room 356
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-2500
Facsimile: (617) 722-2008
E-Mail: Rep.SalvatoreDiMasi@hou.state.ma.us
Angelo M. Scaccia, Chairman
House Committee on Rules
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The State House, Room 166
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: (617) 722-2692
Facsimile: (617) 722-2822
E-Mail: Rep.AngeloScaccia@hou.state.ma.us
We also encourage you to push for the bill’s passage through your other elected officials and your work with the Massachusetts Municipal Association and related advocacy groups.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Dear Municipal Official:
As your elected leaders on Beacon Hill, we fight hard to strengthen and protect communities whenever possible. In our opinion, the best choice we can make is to invest in our municipalities and the services they provide.
Much of our legislative agenda every year is focused on dedicating more resources to cities and towns and on cutting costs that burden local budgets. Recently, we took a giant step forward with these efforts by filing a bill to increase direct local aid this year.
Please allow us to tell you a bit more about this legislation.
We recognize that when lottery aid was “capped” from 2003-2005, the state forced cities and towns to deplete their local stabilization funds by $450 million. At the time, the state justified this as a necessary step to help our state get through difficult financial times. But hindsight shows that withholding this much money was not necessary. At the same time that cities and towns were taking money out of their stabilization funds, the state Rainy Day Fund actually went up. In fact, it doubled in size.
Now, the state Rainy Day Fund is worth more than $2 billion. That’s more money than we reasonably could expect to need if tough times come again. We believe it’s time to give this money back to cities and towns.
A few weeks ago, our caucus filed a bill designated as House Docket 4651. The bill would distribute $450 million to cities and towns as a one-time local aid payment. The distribution of money to each community would be based on the lottery formula, and as with traditional lottery aid, all payments would be unrestricted in use on the local level.
Please take a moment to review the attached legislation and see what your community would stand to receive if the bill is passed.
Our state ended last year with a budget surplus of almost a half a billion dollars, and recently the Patrick administration increased revenue forecasts for this fiscal year by $400 million. This gives us an opportunity to stop ignoring the diversion of money from cities and towns over the past few years and to do something positive to address it. Local services and property taxpayers alike are counting on having House Docket 4651 passed into law.
Unfortunately, not all of our legislative colleagues agree. Right now, House Docket 4651 is in the Rules Committee, and unless pressure is brought to bear on leadership to release the bill to the full House for action, it most likely never will get the consideration it deserves.
If you support additional funding for local services, please help us get House Docket 4651 passed into law. The first step is to encourage House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi and Angelo Scaccia, Chairman of the House Rules Committee, to refer the bill to an appropriate joint committee. Otherwise, the House and Senate will not even be able to debate the bill. We are working with our colleagues in that regard, but it would be helpful for them to hear from you directly. Should you wish to voice your support for House Docket 4651, you may contact Speaker DiMasi and Chairman Scaccia at the following addresses:
Salvatore DiMasi, Speaker of the House
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The State House, Room 356
Boston, MA 02133
Telephone: (617) 722-2500
Facsimile: (617) 722-2008
E-Mail: Rep.SalvatoreDiMasi@hou.state.ma.us
Angelo M. Scaccia, Chairman
House Committee on Rules
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The State House, Room 166
Boston, MA 02133
Phone: (617) 722-2692
Facsimile: (617) 722-2822
E-Mail: Rep.AngeloScaccia@hou.state.ma.us
We also encourage you to push for the bill’s passage through your other elected officials and your work with the Massachusetts Municipal Association and related advocacy groups.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
Minority Leader
Mary S. Rogeness
Assistant Minority Leader
George N. Peterson, Jr.
Minority Whip
John A. Lepper
Assistant Minority Whip
Fred Jay Barrows
Viriato M. deMacedo
Lewis G. Evangelidis
Paul K. Frost
Susan W. Gifford
Robert S. Hargraves
Bradford Hill
Donald F. Humason, Jr.
Paul J.P. Loscocco
Jeffrey D. Perry
Elizabeth A. Poirier
Karyn E. Polito
Richard J. Ross
Todd M. Smola
Daniel K. Webster
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
BILL FILING TEMPLATE
Be It Enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives, etc., as follows:
SECTION 1. This section shall be known, and may be cited, as the “Massachusetts
Municipal Finance Relief Act of 2007.”
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 30 days
of the effective date of this act, the comptroller shall transfer $450,000,000 from the
Commonwealth Stabilization Fund, established under section 2H of chapter 29 of the
General Laws, to the General Fund.
SECTION 3. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, within 30 days
of the effective date of this act and without further appropriation, the state treasurer shall
distribute a total of $450,000,000 to the cities and towns of the commonwealth as a onetime,
non-recurring supplemental local aid payment, in accordance with the following
schedule:--
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
ABINGTON $1,178,294
ACTON $823,577
ACUSHNET $896,691
ADAMS $1,192,287
AGAWAM $2,206,641
ALFORD $8,082
AMESBURY $1,165,267
AMHERST $4,724,355
ANDOVER $1,070,289
AQUINNAH $1,399
ARLINGTON $2,382,472
ASHBURNHAM $419,044
ASHBY $228,479
ASHFIELD $111,201
ASHLAND $669,666
ATHOL $1,367,752
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
ATTLEBORO $3,417,106
AUBURN $1,025,804
AVON $222,336
AYER $432,161
BARNSTABLE $1,259,917
BARRE $487,081
BECKET $50,266
BEDFORD $454,517
BELCHERTOWN $1,019,155
BELLINGHAM $1,016,363
BELMONT $954,204
BERKLEY $364,446
BERLIN $120,761
BERNARDSTON $169,886
BEVERLY $2,317,608
BILLERICA $2,357,240
BLACKSTONE $716,766
BLANDFORD $75,566
BOLTON $118,260
BOSTON $34,451,665
BOURNE $708,379
BOXBOROUGH $151,092
BOXFORD $273,653
BOYLSTON $205,169
BRAINTREE $1,801,787
BREWSTER $236,502
BRIDGEWATER $1,918,040
BRIMFIELD $233,530
BROCKTON $10,467,062
BROOKFIELD $295,743
BROOKLINE $2,119,507
BUCKLAND $165,715
BURLINGTON $901,398
CAMBRIDGE $4,226,137
CANTON $861,922
CARLISLE $124,309
CARVER $875,017
CHARLEMONT $104,701
CHARLTON $777,372
CHATHAM $90,145
CHELMSFORD $1,819,965
CHELSEA $3,284,582
CHESHIRE $337,110
CHESTER $107,838
CHESTERFIELD $82,698
CHICOPEE $6,321,979
CHILMARK $2,246
CLARKSBURG $211,585
CLINTON $1,325,540
COHASSET $228,228
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
COLRAIN $152,809
CONCORD $510,091
CONWAY $107,048
CUMMINGTON $49,968
DALTON $603,835
DANVERS $1,167,454
DARTMOUTH $1,509,932
DEDHAM $1,212,630
DEERFIELD $287,690
DENNIS $326,207
DIGHTON $416,306
DOUGLAS $437,115
DOVER $115,222
DRACUT $2,098,645
DUDLEY $924,562
DUNSTABLE $124,714
DUXBURY $530,938
EAST BRIDGEWATER $896,577
EAST BROOKFIELD $161,654
EAST LONGMEADOW $867,009
EASTHAM $89,238
EASTHAMPTON $1,631,199
EASTON $1,311,685
EDGARTOWN $26,180
EGREMONT $37,793
ERVING $33,930
ESSEX $130,371
EVERETT $2,172,454
FAIRHAVEN $1,162,298
FALL RIVER $13,171,348
FALMOUTH $830,410
FITCHBURG $5,008,229
FLORIDA $29,814
FOXBOROUGH $892,182
FRAMINGHAM $3,698,467
FRANKLIN $1,480,044
FREETOWN $568,769
GARDNER $2,480,083
GEORGETOWN $403,580
GILL $127,386
GLOUCESTER $1,466,740
GOSHEN $47,918
GOSNOLD $312
GRAFTON $936,545
GRANBY $528,871
GRANVILLE $96,033
GREAT BARRINGTON $454,576
GREENFIELD $1,901,636
GROTON $461,006
GROVELAND $381,399
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
HADLEY $205,268
HALIFAX $543,727
HAMILTON $364,502
HAMPDEN $375,214
HANCOCK $25,330
HANOVER $630,499
HANSON $701,870
HARDWICK $241,224
HARVARD $860,532
HARWICH $258,008
HATFIELD $186,896
HAVERHILL $4,682,278
HAWLEY $19,702
HEATH $46,940
HINGHAM $784,494
HINSDALE $126,873
HOLBROOK $881,505
HOLDEN $1,026,275
HOLLAND $120,897
HOLLISTON $729,144
HOLYOKE $5,791,283
HOPEDALE $390,579
HOPKINTON $412,638
HUBBARDSTON $240,155
HUDSON $1,194,424
HULL $601,122
HUNTINGTON $197,749
IPSWICH $588,302
KINGSTON $574,923
LAKEVILLE $490,095
LANCASTER $495,851
LANESBOROUGH $206,618
LAWRENCE $11,668,975
LEE $373,031
LEICESTER $1,040,006
LENOX $284,545
LEOMINSTER $3,422,473
LEVERETT $106,915
LEXINGTON $917,977
LEYDEN $48,863
LINCOLN $267,238
LITTLETON $346,401
LONGMEADOW $836,845
LOWELL $12,035,457
LUDLOW $1,829,801
LUNENBURG $633,417
LYNN $8,849,582
LYNNFIELD $448,595
MALDEN $4,826,064
MANCHESTER $133,205
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
MANSFIELD $987,141
MARBLEHEAD $663,120
MARION $135,153
MARLBOROUGH $1,947,549
MARSHFIELD $1,200,004
MASHPEE $220,375
MATTAPOISETT $242,766
MAYNARD $658,570
MEDFIELD $509,913
MEDFORD $4,001,202
MEDWAY $640,766
MELROSE $1,770,404
MENDON $244,778
MERRIMAC $436,138
METHUEN $3,178,290
MIDDLEBOROUGH $1,476,776
MIDDLEFIELD $31,843
MIDDLETON $266,820
MILFORD $1,829,521
MILLBURY $1,060,668
MILLIS $472,657
MILLVILLE $213,803
MILTON $1,325,372
MONROE $4,311
MONSON $781,895
MONTAGUE $757,269
MONTEREY $20,570
MONTGOMERY $49,147
MOUNT WASHINGTON $1,936
NAHANT $165,972
NANTUCKET $47,458
NATICK $1,347,638
NEEDHAM $946,502
NEW ASHFORD $8,647
NEW BEDFORD $13,434,215
NEW BRAINTREE $71,405
NEW MARLBOROUGH $35,079
NEW SALEM $61,424
NEWBURY $272,103
NEWBURYPORT $863,476
NEWTON $2,857,308
NORFOLK $574,414
NORTH ADAMS $2,567,937
NORTH ANDOVER $1,169,517
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH $1,723,268
NORTH BROOKFIELD $477,284
NORTH READING $608,496
NORTHAMPTON $2,354,552
NORTHBOROUGH $638,721
NORTHBRIDGE $1,262,882
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
NORTHFIELD $189,611
NORTON $1,244,924
NORWELL $381,700
NORWOOD $1,503,106
OAK BLUFFS $43,562
OAKHAM $114,919
ORANGE $966,994
ORLEANS $102,888
OTIS $21,787
OXFORD $1,231,661
PALMER $1,201,247
PAXTON $279,858
PEABODY $2,812,460
PELHAM $95,345
PEMBROKE $1,006,878
PEPPERELL $765,974
PERU $66,701
PETERSHAM $68,669
PHILLIPSTON $104,663
PITTSFIELD $4,747,933
PLAINFIELD $30,050
PLAINVILLE $454,420
PLYMOUTH $2,347,065
PLYMPTON $142,103
PRINCETON $177,347
PROVINCETOWN $72,176
QUINCY $5,870,577
RANDOLPH $2,234,696
RAYNHAM $681,117
READING $1,203,143
REHOBOTH $562,184
REVERE $3,594,292
RICHMOND $64,803
ROCHESTER $254,401
ROCKLAND $1,393,681
ROCKPORT $262,098
ROWE $2,360
ROWLEY $268,494
ROYALSTON $96,443
RUSSELL $146,016
RUTLAND $490,236
SALEM $2,544,390
SALISBURY $378,466
SANDISFIELD $20,757
SANDWICH $632,575
SAUGUS $1,338,890
SAVOY $62,760
SCITUATE $783,841
SEEKONK $737,081
SHARON $808,417
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
SHEFFIELD $140,180
SHELBURNE $155,282
SHERBORN $119,662
SHIRLEY $696,571
SHREWSBURY $1,524,727
SHUTESBURY $101,577
SOMERSET $918,702
SOMERVILLE $6,690,362
SOUTH HADLEY $1,554,650
SOUTHAMPTON $381,664
SOUTHBOROUGH $261,984
SOUTHBRIDGE $2,107,263
SOUTHWICK $682,361
SPENCER $1,170,735
SPRINGFIELD $21,795,215
STERLING $411,990
STOCKBRIDGE $59,707
STONEHAM $1,249,657
STOUGHTON $1,868,479
STOW $248,799
STURBRIDGE $464,064
SUDBURY $529,713
SUNDERLAND $302,751
SUTTON $467,578
SWAMPSCOTT $605,763
SWANSEA $1,125,013
TAUNTON $5,037,965
TEMPLETON $725,682
TEWKSBURY $1,667,124
TISBURY $58,735
TOLLAND $5,355
TOPSFIELD $245,500
TOWNSEND $699,994
TRURO $18,020
TYNGSBOROUGH $578,865
TYRINGHAM $7,605
UPTON $293,346
UXBRIDGE $824,185
WAKEFIELD $1,325,811
WALES $141,479
WALPOLE $1,101,248
WALTHAM $3,124,782
WARE $1,026,775
WAREHAM $1,185,109
WARREN $470,550
WARWICK $54,202
WASHINGTON $39,956
WATERTOWN $1,694,721
WAYLAND $406,508
WEBSTER $1,453,220
MUNICIPALITY AMOUNT
WELLESLEY $729,343
WELLFLEET $35,011
WENDELL $87,942
WENHAM $189,295
WEST BOYLSTON $444,638
WEST BRIDGEWATER $368,971
WEST BROOKFIELD $284,457
WEST NEWBURY $168,511
WEST SPRINGFIELD $2,146,745
WEST STOCKBRIDGE $58,240
WEST TISBURY $21,696
WESTBOROUGH $624,305
WESTFIELD $3,770,787
WESTFORD $841,972
WESTHAMPTON $86,797
WESTMINSTER $386,044
WESTON $224,056
WESTPORT $728,740
WESTWOOD $419,542
WEYMOUTH $4,056,289
WHATELY $80,385
WHITMAN $1,254,207
WILBRAHAM $804,048
WILLIAMSBURG $181,345
WILLIAMSTOWN $571,880
WILMINGTON $885,708
WINCHENDON $995,498
WINCHESTER $720,496
WINDSOR $45,757
WINTHROP $1,424,242
WOBURN $1,859,702
WORCESTER $19,208,638
WORTHINGTON $75,239
WRENTHAM $558,449
YARMOUTH $756,271
TOTAL $450,000,000
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