Because this did not get anywhere near the attention it warrants - I am reposting this.
This is critical information for your districts. Starting around the 40 minute or so mark, the news is startling to say the very least.
Due to the inability to project revenues, which really can't be determined at all until the economy reopens, there is a real possibility the legislature may decided to go into a 1/12 for the state budget, or pass a budget for July, August, and September. (Place this also on your calendar as a must watch on 4/7: https://malegislature.gov/Events/SpecialEvents/Detail/350).
The HWM has already indicated they will not be releasing a budget in April. I expect the SWM will soon be following suit. I cannot blame them at all for this by the way - everyday is fluid with the economy, and revenues bottoming out.
No full state budget, means districts and municipalities are placed in holding pattern for state aid, which means everyone should operate in 1/12 to FY20 until concrete numbers are passed.
My suggestion for whatever it is worth, is to start having conversations with your union presidents. Should the state be forced to delay FY21 budget, will the unions agree to delay FY21 contract raises until state budget passes. They aren't giving them up. They are just delaying them. This is a no brainer to me, which should elicit an "of course" from union members - however, in the real world, easy is never really easy is it.
10 million jobs gone the past two weeks. Everything needs to be on the table if we are going to get through this.
