Looking to close the books on fiscal 2024, Gov. Maura Healey filed a $714 million supplemental budget bill on Sept. 11 that includes several provisions of note to municipalities.

The bill’s spending would cover deficiencies in the fiscal 2024 state budget law, with a net cost to the state of $149 million, according to the administration. The majority of the spending, $565 million, would be for MassHealth, which is a “net-zero” cost due to federal reimbursements. Most of the remaining $149 million would address fiscal 2024 account deficiencies, with $33.9 million in new spending.

The governor’s bill includes $11 million to seed a Disaster Relief and Resiliency Fund, which was created in the fiscal 2025 state budget. The fund would allow for a rapid state response to extreme weather events in municipalities, and is set to be funded at the end of fiscal 2025, should there be a consolidated net surplus of $14 million. According to the governor’s filing letter, this proposal would allow the funds to be available immediately, with the intention of still using the fiscal 2025 surplus to add to the fund.

To address municipal tax abatement reimbursements for veterans, widows, blind persons and the elderly, the bill includes $11.1 million to fully fund fiscal 2025 payments to municipalities. If the funding is approved, the Division of Local Services would issue accounting guidance.

The governor’s bill includes several outside sections to address policy changes and/or technical fixes.

The bill proposes a new effective date for changes to the tax title foreclosure process that were included in the fiscal 2025 state budget law. The effective date would be pushed from Nov. 1 of this year to July 1, 2025, to coincide with the beginning of the next fiscal year.

 WORCESTER, Mass. — In a letter to Gov. Maura Healey and the secretary of Executive office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, state legislators are calling for a two-year delay in implementing the Advanced Clean Truck and Heavy Duty Omnibus rules, which will essentially phase out diesel-fuel trucks in the state. 

Massachusetts is set to implement the rules Jan. 1.

The state has said they're expected to produce health, environmental and economic benefits.

Rep. John Marsi is among the legislators who signed the letter.

He said while a two-year delay will not alleviate all issues with this policy, it will at least allow a more in-depth review and provide increased flexibility to the trucking community.

“There are lot of companies that actually buy trucks or use trucks within the state, you know, rely on this. And so, this will be a trickle-down effect for their revenue as well," he said. "We ask the governor and the secretary to consider pushing out this deadline at least two years. So, you can get the right people under the table to talk about how, you know, this actually affects our businesses which reduced tax revenue. And honestly, people will keep their older trucks longer and that will actually defeat the purpose of what they're trying to do."

Marsi said the rule would not apply to emergency vehicles, like fire trucks. 

A spokesperson from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said drivers would still be able to register a diesel truck in Massachusetts if they buy out of state.

 Apparently, someone over on the shiny penny facebook group Jailbirds did not like a posting concerning Templeton capital planning committee. Perhaps they ran out of polish. I laughed so hard when the little thing popped up, almost spit out my coffee, now that would have been bad.

Some posters over there complaining about inventory or lack of so I posted town bylaw on capital improvement committee, shows there is a need for one more at large member.

§ 9-7Establishment; officers; appointment and term; vacancies.

A. 

There is hereby authorized a Capital Improvements Committee, to be composed of five members, as follows:

(1) 

One from the Select Board;

[Amended 6-17-2020 ATM by Art. 9; 5-11-2022 ATM by Art. 5]

(2) 

One from the Advisory Committee;

(3) 

Two from the community at large to be appointed by the Select Board; and

[Amended 5-15-2024 ATM by Art. 10]

(4) 

The Town Treasurer/Collector or designee.

[Amended 5-15-2024 ATM by Art. 10]