from the Massachusetts Municipal Association website:
The governor’s budget would increase Chapter 70 aid by just 2.2 percent, providing every city, town and school district with a minimum increase of $20 per student. The budget would continue to implement the “target share” equity provisions enacted in 2007.
The foundation budget calculation would continue modest progress to implement the Foundation Budget Review Commission’s recommendation to use a more realistic factor for the cost of employee health insurance in school systems. The adjustment in the foundation budget, however, is not enough to increase aid to many districts. A high majority of cities, towns and districts would only receive the increase of $20 per student, a below-inflation rate that would force communities to reduce school programs or further shift funds from the municipal side of the budget.
The MMA and local officials will be urging legislators to increase Chapter 70 aid to ensure that all schools receive a suitable and appropriate increase in fiscal 2019, which the MMA believes should be at least $100 per student. The MMA also strongly supports implementation of all of the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission to update the Chapter 70 “foundation budget” minimum spending standards for special education and employee health insurance, and to add to the spending standard a measure of recognition for the cost of services for low-income, English Language Learner and other students who would benefit from more intensive services. The commission recommended phasing in the changes over a four-year period, a position supported by the MMA. Increasing minimum aid and fixing the inadequacies in the foundation formula are essential.
With increasing costs for the majority of expenditures for the Town, plus the soon to be full time Templeton fire department adding to those increased costs; what wil be the approach of the selectmen to maintain their financial policy goal of 5% of the prior year's omnibus budget targeted to free cash?
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Dear Local Officials,
I would like to begin by introducing myself to those who do not know me. I am Senator Gobi’s Legislative Director and General Counsel. I will be the new point person on budgetary matters.
Earlier today, Governor Baker released his Budget Recommendation for the 2019 Fiscal Year, which begins on July 1, 2018. An executive summary of his recommendations, along with the complete text, can be found here: http://budget.digital.mass.gov/bb/h1/fy19h1/.
As a reminder to those who have been involved in the state budget process in the past or to those who are new to it, this is only the first step in the process that will take several months, during which the House of Representatives and the Senate will each craft their own recommendations and individual legislators will have the chance to file amendments. Senator Gobi would like to take this opportunity to reach out to learn about any budget priorities that towns may have. Please send along to me any budget needs of the town, including a summary and cost estimate.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me by email or at our office at (617) 722-1540. Thank you, and I look forward to working with you in the coming months.
Henry Kahn
Legislative Director & General Counsel
Senator Anne M. Gobi
State House, Room 513
Boston, MA 02133
Legislative Director & General Counsel
Senator Anne M. Gobi
State House, Room 513
Boston, MA 02133
Tel. (617) 722-1540
Fax: (617) 722-1078
Fax: (617) 722-1078
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Sunday, January 21, 2018
from the schedule of the annual Massachusetts Municipal Association;
4. Inspire Engagement With a Citizens Academy
Room 205, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association
Citizen academies have become more popular as local officials look for ways to get citizens more involved, whether through volunteer boards and commissions or otherwise, and residents seek to learn more about the day-to-day operations of municipal government. These educational sessions give citizens an overview of all aspects of city or town government, whether in a one-day workshop or a series of sessions. Learn how a successful academy can serve as an entry point for board and committee volunteers, promote two-way dialogue between staff and residents, and deepen public knowledge and understanding of how local government operates.
PANELISTS
Peter Lombardi is the town administrator in Wenham.
Carl Valente is the town manager in Lexington.
MODERATOR
Tom Hutcheson is the town administrator in Conway
How about we inspire them with an attentive, always present Board of Selectmen, as in five, the number elected by the people, to be for the people. How about these same five selectmen allow people to speak, question and discuss when the people who elect them have questions or concerns about something. Something such as an already voted article at Town Meeting, but later hear some things that they wish to have clarified. How about these selectmen sit on the stage and let that happen without going all out to try and stop debate.
Perhaps they will acquire some new ways to put a spin on things from this forum.
4. Inspire Engagement With a Citizens Academy
Room 205, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Municipal Management Association
Citizen academies have become more popular as local officials look for ways to get citizens more involved, whether through volunteer boards and commissions or otherwise, and residents seek to learn more about the day-to-day operations of municipal government. These educational sessions give citizens an overview of all aspects of city or town government, whether in a one-day workshop or a series of sessions. Learn how a successful academy can serve as an entry point for board and committee volunteers, promote two-way dialogue between staff and residents, and deepen public knowledge and understanding of how local government operates.
PANELISTS
Peter Lombardi is the town administrator in Wenham.
Carl Valente is the town manager in Lexington.
MODERATOR
Tom Hutcheson is the town administrator in Conway
How about we inspire them with an attentive, always present Board of Selectmen, as in five, the number elected by the people, to be for the people. How about these same five selectmen allow people to speak, question and discuss when the people who elect them have questions or concerns about something. Something such as an already voted article at Town Meeting, but later hear some things that they wish to have clarified. How about these selectmen sit on the stage and let that happen without going all out to try and stop debate.
Perhaps they will acquire some new ways to put a spin on things from this forum.
from the schedule for this weeks annual Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting;
Lets hope one of the Templeton selectmen attended this!
5. Not Just for Accountants: Know Your Chart of Accounts
Room 208, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Government Finance Officers Association
The chart of accounts is the backbone of municipal finance. It organizes a city or town’s financial books, including revenue, expense and fund balance accounts. The chart of accounts is not just an issue for your accountant; it’s used by town and school officials, outside auditors and the state. Learn why a user-friendly, well-constructed chart of accounts makes municipal and school finances more transparent and easier to manage. This workshop will also cover best practices in setting up and using a chart of accounts, how it can lose its effectiveness over time, and why a municipality might want to replace its current chart of accounts with a more effective one.
PANELISTS
Maryellen Dunn is the deputy superintendent for administration and finance in Brookline.
Wendy Nightingale is the finance director in Easton.
Hannah York is a certified public accountant and manager at CliftonLarsonAllen in Lexington.
MODERATOR
Sandy Pooler is the deputy town manager in Arlington.
Lets hope one of the Templeton selectmen attended this!
5. Not Just for Accountants: Know Your Chart of Accounts
Room 208, 2nd floor, Hynes Convention Center
Presented by the Massachusetts Government Finance Officers Association
The chart of accounts is the backbone of municipal finance. It organizes a city or town’s financial books, including revenue, expense and fund balance accounts. The chart of accounts is not just an issue for your accountant; it’s used by town and school officials, outside auditors and the state. Learn why a user-friendly, well-constructed chart of accounts makes municipal and school finances more transparent and easier to manage. This workshop will also cover best practices in setting up and using a chart of accounts, how it can lose its effectiveness over time, and why a municipality might want to replace its current chart of accounts with a more effective one.
PANELISTS
Maryellen Dunn is the deputy superintendent for administration and finance in Brookline.
Wendy Nightingale is the finance director in Easton.
Hannah York is a certified public accountant and manager at CliftonLarsonAllen in Lexington.
MODERATOR
Sandy Pooler is the deputy town manager in Arlington.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Board of Selectmen Policies and Procedures:
TOWN MEETINGS:
1. Annual Town Meeting: There shall be an Annual Town Meeting in May each year for the consideration of all Town business which is to be posted properly prior to the meeting. The Annual Town Meeting Warrant is the Selectmen’s by statute. The Selectmen may insert articles in the warrant; within the time frame the warrant is open, on their own initiative or by written petition signed by the proper number of registered voters for the Annual Town Meeting.
TOWN MEETINGS:
1. Annual Town Meeting: There shall be an Annual Town Meeting in May each year for the consideration of all Town business which is to be posted properly prior to the meeting. The Annual Town Meeting Warrant is the Selectmen’s by statute. The Selectmen may insert articles in the warrant; within the time frame the warrant is open, on their own initiative or by written petition signed by the proper number of registered voters for the Annual Town Meeting.
January 19, 2018 - from the Massachusetts Municipal Association meeting:
Several days before formally submitting his fiscal 2019 state budget plan, Gov. Charlie Baker presented the broad outlines this morning to more than 1,000 local officials from across Massachusetts during the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show in Boston.
The governor said his budget bill will include a 3.5 percent increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, raising that account to $1.1 billion. The increase matches the projected rate of growth in state tax collections for fiscal 2019, a number that administration and legislative budget writers agreed upon last Friday.
On the other major local aid account, the governor said he would increase Chapter 70 education aid by $118 million, $15 million of which would be set aside to assist districts teaching Puerto Rico hurricane survivors who have come to Massachusetts to attend school. The roughly 2.5 increase would bring the Chapter 70 account to $4.87 billion.
The UGGA account is funded mainly from Lottery and other gaming revenues and is used locally to help pay for municipal services and to reduce reliance on the property tax. During his campaign in 2014, the governor said he would increase UGGA at the same rate as the growth in tax collections, a commitment he has honored now in each of his four budget proposals.
The governor added that the administration has held to this commitment even in years when the revenue projections proved to be overly optimistic, protecting cities and towns when the state has needed to make mid-year cuts.
The governor also announced that his administration would be filing a bill in a matter of weeks with $200 million for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program, a critical reimbursement program used by cities and towns to maintain basic infrastructure.
People better keep buying lotto tickets.
Several days before formally submitting his fiscal 2019 state budget plan, Gov. Charlie Baker presented the broad outlines this morning to more than 1,000 local officials from across Massachusetts during the MMA Annual Meeting & Trade Show in Boston.
The governor said his budget bill will include a 3.5 percent increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid, raising that account to $1.1 billion. The increase matches the projected rate of growth in state tax collections for fiscal 2019, a number that administration and legislative budget writers agreed upon last Friday.
On the other major local aid account, the governor said he would increase Chapter 70 education aid by $118 million, $15 million of which would be set aside to assist districts teaching Puerto Rico hurricane survivors who have come to Massachusetts to attend school. The roughly 2.5 increase would bring the Chapter 70 account to $4.87 billion.
The UGGA account is funded mainly from Lottery and other gaming revenues and is used locally to help pay for municipal services and to reduce reliance on the property tax. During his campaign in 2014, the governor said he would increase UGGA at the same rate as the growth in tax collections, a commitment he has honored now in each of his four budget proposals.
The governor added that the administration has held to this commitment even in years when the revenue projections proved to be overly optimistic, protecting cities and towns when the state has needed to make mid-year cuts.
The governor also announced that his administration would be filing a bill in a matter of weeks with $200 million for the Chapter 90 local road and bridge program, a critical reimbursement program used by cities and towns to maintain basic infrastructure.
People better keep buying lotto tickets.
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