Budget

budget and local aid updates, community preservation act, financial outlook, local aid policy, priorities/requests, resources, revenue, taxes

The Education Aid Conversation for FY17

Over the next few weeks, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will finalize the data underlying the Chapter 70 education aid distribution for next year and begin to explore options for tweaking the distribution formula. Over the past few years, I’ve been particularly concerned to influence the Chapter 70 formula to address the shortfall that Watertown has experienced.

State Funding for Local Housing Authorities

In April, Senator Brownsberger presented a letter to Town Meeting regarding the Belmont Housing Authority’s application for Community Preservation Act funds to help pay for an electrical upgrade at one of its properties. The Belmont Board of Selectmen responded expressing concern that the state is providing insufficient financial support for the local housing authority. Here is Senator Brownsberger’s subsequent letter to the Selectmen, which agrees with their concern.

As vote looms, concern raised over tax holiday

The Boston Globe reports on the upcoming vote on the sales tax holiday that, “a growing chorus of legislators and budget watchdogs from across the political spectrum is voicing sharp skepticism about the summer sales tax holiday, a decadelong Massachusetts tradition popular with consumers.” Senator Brownsberger plans to vote against the holiday and is quoted as saying on his website, “[h]olidays are festive and I am not by nature a grinch.”