Massachusetts Mayors gathered yesterday in Boston under the auspices of the Mayors Association to talk about a response to the unveiling of the House Ways and Means Budget. I was unable to attend the conference, but the video is pretty representative of the thoughts of Mayors throughout the State. Mayor Wong made some pretty important points here, and you saw some of those in my earlier posting on this budget. Mayor Wong’s points are important not just because we need to rebuild public confidence before we ask for additional money, but because even with additional money the rate of growth in the budget busting line items of health and pensions are not sustainable at the municipal level. So that means real reform is imperative NOW. And while the Patrick Administration has taken real and substantial steps to try to help municipalities on the revenue side of the equation they still blanche from endorsing real reform on the cost side of the equation. The Legislature, up to this point, has produced nothing on either side of that equation. We await the Rosenberg/Donato Commission report.
http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/16977198001?isVid=1&publisherID=245991542
Bill Manzi.com 
Oh, Your Honor,
This is like a long painful soap opera. No matter when you address it it’s still in the same place and the plot doesn’t change.
The most comical is the thought of “rebuilding public confidence” before asking for additional money. Do you have a scintilla of hope that you can do that? How?
I see on an earlier posting a picture of you, with your signature smile, standing beside your “friends” from which you hope for rescue. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.
To support my cynicism let’s look at the medium just this morning;
1. Radio: When given the choice of WHICH tax to support the vast majority OF callers said NONE.
2. Newspaper: Glen Johnson wrote, in yesterdays Trib, a less than flattering article about Transportation “reform”. The quotes were his, not my editorial correction. I was considering suing for copyright infringement, but thought better of it as it makes the same points I have been making over and over again-NO REFORM. Already there is legislation amendments to reverse increase insurance premiums and wipe out 25 millions in savings to municipalities. Of course that did not stop Rep Matt Patrick from asking for $150,000 for UMass to study Winter moths. There were 60 earmarks registered yesterday.
3. Taxachusetts has been resurrected.
These are just a few items that shows the quality of governance we, in this state, enjoy and why you will never get help from you “friends”. And for that I am sorry.
Watching this budget legislation unfold will be a sad demonstration of incompetency with a probable ending that sees a raise in taxes somewhere. And, your honor, the towns will still get it in the end (posterior).
Jules
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Your Honor,
I’m hearing rumors of a general across the board tax hike because the legislature can’t get their earmarks through.
What have you heard.
Jules
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Jules,
The House budget means that you will see movement towards a tax hike. The questions and politics abound, however. You have two areas that need revenue help immediately.
1)The transportation portfolio
2) Everything else, especially local aid.
The legislature just has not agreed on how it is all to be done, and what the general tax would be that needs to be raised. It is my belief that the Legislature leans towards a sales tax hike of 1 penny, but the Governor has expressed opposition to that. What the Legislature thinks about the gas tax is anybody’s guess, but whatever the overall number I believe they will break it up over a multiyear phase in period, a la New Hampshire. A lot of politics still to be played.
Bill
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Your Honor,
I guess “reform” before “revenue” is pretty much dead. I’m shocked. Shocked, I tell you.
Do we have a coffee scheduled?
Jules
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