Governor Deval Patrick vetoed $122.5 million dollars in spending approved by the State Legislature in the FY 2009 budget, and has asked for additional budgetary authority to make mid-year cuts if necessary. From the Boston Globe:

“We’ve got to prepare now for economic troubles ahead,” Patrick said at a late-afternoon budget signing ceremony yesterday. “While there is merit to many of the budget items I have eliminated or reduced, our present circumstances demand increased restraint.”

The cuts hit 260 pet projects, known as earmarks, that were inserted by legislators, including tens of millions intended to help hospitals with uncovered costs for Medicaid patients in the state’s health insurance system. Numerous parks, community centers, and social service programs were denied hoped-for state grants their legislators had secured.

“Not all of the earmarks had merit, and those were vetoed,” Patrick said.

While I do not have the list of vetoed items it appears that at least two important Methuen initiatives were cut, including the Appleyard money. It also appears that the increased local aid for the City of Haverhill was cut as well.

House Chair of Ways and Means Bob Deleo issued a statement:

“I am pleased the governor has lent his approval to 99 percent of the appropriations the Legislature approved as part of its Fiscal 2009 budget plan,” House Ways and Means Chairman Robert DeLeo said in a statement. “As is the case each year, we will evaluate any vetoes in the context of the priorities the Legislature set forth and the fiscal realities we face.”

Governor Patrick also asked for the additional budgetary authority, which has been granted to Governor Romney in 2003.

In addition to his vetoes, Patrick is asking lawmakers to give him unilateral authority to make midyear cuts across state government. The governor already has authority to cut spending in Cabinet agencies at any point, but he is seeking broader authority to cut elsewhere, should tax collections indeed come in below projections.

“Granting that authority now, before the end of the legislative session, enables us to respond quickly and responsibly in the event of a serious downtown,” he said.

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation has estimated that the state may bump into that fiscal problem sooner rather than later.

Despite the governor’s cuts, one budget watchdog agency said Patrick virtually guaranteed that he would need to invoke that increased authority by not making deeper slashes. The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimated the $28.2 billion state budget approved by House and Senate negotiators and sent to Patrick on July 3 was at least $1 billion out of balance. Patrick’s vetoes put only a small dent in that projected shortfall.

The danger, from a local perspective, is that the Governor’s possible increased authority could be wielded mid-year against the local aid accounts, setting up a situation where draconian mid year cuts would be imposed on cities and towns. If the legislature grants this additional authority it would be my hope that local aid be exempted from such a potential. I will post the specific cuts as soon as they are available. Read the Globe story here.