Category Archives: Municipal Finance

School Budget Passed by School Committee

The Methuen School Committee passed their budget on Monday night, and we were able to bring back the two band positions that will allow us to continue the level of instruction that we give today. It was a difficult budget, … Continue reading

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Municipal Budget Passed

Yesterday the City Council met in Saturday session to vote a municipal budget, which was approved unanimously. I will post the full budget here tommorow, and talk a little bit more on some of the specifics. The School budget was … Continue reading

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Accord Reached with Patrolman

I am happy to be able to announce that I have reached a tentative accord with Methuen’s Patrolman’s Union that will avert the twenty layoffs that had been scheduled to occur with the adoption of the FY2010 Municipal budget. I … Continue reading

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Methuen’s Budget

City Council met last night to adopt the Municipal budget, and got through a couple of sections before recessing until Saturday morning at 9 a.m. I have not posted on the municipal budget because of the changing nature of the … Continue reading

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Health Care Deal in Methuen

I am very pleased to announce a health care deal in Methuen between the City and the Coalition representing the municipal unions on health care. This health care agreement will save Methuen taxpayers $1.2 million dollars in FY 2010. The … Continue reading

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The Sales Tax Revisited

Today’s Herald had a story about what a boon the sales tax increase would be to New Hampshire. As the Mayor of a border community the Herald asked me my thoughts, which remain the same. The increase is a jobs … Continue reading

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The Obama Message on Health Care

This week President Obama talks health care in his weekly message. The President has spoken about health care before, but it has never been more important. Without cost containment in health care the entire economy is in danger, in my … Continue reading

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Methuen’s Budget and Private Fireworks Donations

With all of the talk about budget cuts possibly impacting our annual fireworks display I was pleasantly suprised to receive a check for $1000 from Wal-mart in Methuen as I attended their grand re-opening. That check was the first of … Continue reading

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Municipal Relief Commission Takes a Pass

The so called Municipal Relief Commission has issued its report, and after nine months or so of work it has managed, in the area of health care, to actually recommend a system that will take us backwards from the point … Continue reading

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Treasurer Cahill seeks Federal Dollars for School Construction

State Treasurer Tim Cahill, in a letter to Governor Deval Patrick, has advocated for an application of federal dollars to the Massachusetts School Building Authority that would minimize, or erase, the need for local contributions to school projects in the … Continue reading

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