The State Legislature, as they contemplate major cuts in the budget, are considering totally cutting the financing for the “Quinn Bill”, which provides extra pay to police officers for education. This program has traditionally been paid for by the combination of State and Local funding (1/2 each), and it is legislation that was accepted by the City of Methuen many years ago. Throughout the Commonwealth contractual provisions have been added to police union contracts that effectively made cities responsible for the State’s portion if the state funding was removed. Methuen has that provision in its police contracts, which are all up on June 30th of this year. That provision predates my administration, and is the subject of a letter that I have sent to Senator Baddour. The essence of the letter is that as the state contemplates walking away from financing its share of the Quinn Bill it should remove any obligation, contractual or in ordinance, that would require cities to pay the State’s share of Quinn Bill benefits. I suggest, and strongly believe, that the same financial conditions that would justify the Commonwealth walking away from this financing obligation justify a one year suspension of any contractual obligation requiring cities to pick up the states share of this obligation.
There is obviously the question of the contract, and how the provision got in, and why it was not taken out. Without exploring all of the vagaries of contract law it is exceedingly difficult in municipal negotiations to get a provision out of a contract once it is in. And it certainly does cost. The rules are designed to protect what I like to call the “once in, never out” concept. These rules, naturally, are promulgated by the State.
At the municipal level all we are asking for is equity. The State, through the Quinn Bill, has made a commitment to finance half the benefit. Because of the steep financial crisis they may choose to walk away from that commitment. We have the same crisis, and the same daunting choices that the State faces. Why not give to us what you choose to give to yourself. I have attached the letter I sent to Senator Baddour below. Read the Tribune story at this link.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
Historically, what has been the cost, to Methuen, over the last 3 years?
Jules
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What in your opinion would be the best and worst case scenarios for the town, and the Police Dept ?
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Worst is a defunding of the Quinn Bill by the state that leaves us holding the bag because of the contract. The best is a State funded Quinn Bill that leaves us trying to figure out how to pay the benefit with a 32 percent cut in local aid. Not a lot of good choices these days.
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Your Honor,
I assume, with the contract up soon, you will change the “Quinn” bill effects by making town funding dependent on state funding?
Jules
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That will be our position, yes. But as I mentioned in my post it must be negotiated out.
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Your Honor,
Do I assume that means to negotiate it out is to trade for it?
Jules
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Yes that is true 100% of the time, and it is why I did not negotiate it out in the last cycle.
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Your Honor,
I read the “Our view” article on the editorial page of the Eagle Tribune and was quite surprised by our friend’s, Steve Baddour, response to your plea to drop the Quinn Bill altogether, “…the communities were never required to opt into the benefits. Nor did the state force them to sign contracts….” Wow. Sounds like there is no help here. He told you where to get off.
Well, back to the negotiating table. I wounder what this will cost the town. Good Luck
Jules
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Given the fact that Sen Baddour is the son of a distinguished retired Police Sgt who benefited greatly from all the perks attendant therewith, it is curious that he, like Jim Jajuga, who himself was a cop and has two sons who are as well, has embarked on such an anti-cop agenda.
Cities and town more than forty years ago sought to enhance the professionalism of their public safety efforts. The state said if you do this we will pay half the tab. That was a contract which ought not to be breached.
Sen Baddour has consistently taken claim for saving billions through his transportation reform accomplishments. While he has never actually spelled out where that savings is we can take him at his word that he is telling the truth.
Well we can do that at least for the purpose of saying to him that he must be able to find the money to keep the state’s word on the Quinn bill.
If the legislature wants to change the Quinn bill let the debate go on.
But Senator, the state must pay its obligations and not leave it to the property taxpayer!
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Jules,
The total cost last year was about $780,000, half of which was borne by the state.
Bill
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