Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue

Governor Patrick, Lt. Governor Murray and their Cabinet meet with the Commonwealth’s Newest Mayors: Focus on Innovation, Education, Infrastructure and Regionalism

Governor Deval Patrick, Lt. Governor Tim Murray, and their cabinet officials met last week with newly elected mayors from across the state. The meeting was held both to congratulate each mayor and to reiterate the administration’s commitment to partnering with local leaders to provide the services people value and depend on.

 

"I am so pleased to have these mayors by my side as we fight for the values of the people of the Commonwealth," said Governor Patrick. "In times like these we need a close working partnership to protect our investment in our children's education, preserve local aid for cities and towns and make the tough but responsible decisions necessary to carry us through to a brighter tomorrow. I know that these mayors are up to that challenge."

 

Each election year, the Division of Local Services organizes a meeting between new mayors, mayor-elects and key administration officials. The Governor, Lt. Governor and each cabinet secretary is given the opportunity to brief mayors. It is also an opportunity to meet Director of Municipal Affairs and Deputy Commissioner of Local Services, Robert Nunes, and each other, as well as an opportunity for the mayors to tell the Governor what they see ahead for their communities.

 

Mayor William Martin (Greenfield), and Mayor-elect Richard Cohen (Agawam), Mayor-elect Elaine Pluta (Holyoke), Mayor-elect Donna Holaday (Newburyport), Mayor-elect William Flanagan (Fall River), Mayor-elect  Setti Warren (Newton), Mayor-elect Scott Galvin (Woburn), Mayor-elect Linda Balzotti (Brockton), Mayor-elect Joseph O’Brien (Worcester), Mayor-elect Richard Alcombright (North Adams), Mayor-elect Daniel Knapik  (Westfield), and Mayor-elect Judith Flanagan-Kennedy (Lynn) were able to attend. 

 

Mayors heard first from Secretary of Education, Paul Reville, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Jay Gonzalez. Next, Secretary of Public Safety Kevin Burke and Mark Sylvia, Director of Green Communities, joined the meeting in the Governor’s Council Chamber. Secretary of Transportation Jeff Mullen and Nunes briefed the mayors before the Governor and Lt. Governor stopped in. The meeting closed with a briefing on H1N1 from the Department of Public Health and a discussion of workforce development programs by Secretary of Labor, Suzanne Bump.

 

The Governor thanked both the mayors as well as members of his administration for their dedication to public service despite the imposing fiscal climate.

 

Mayors met administration officials in the Governor's Council Chambers in the State House.

 

Secretary of Transportation, Jeffrey Mullen speaks to the gathered newly elected mayors about transportation issues around the Commonwealth.

  

Newly elected Mayor of Newton, Setti Warren, attends the newly elected mayors meeting at the statehouse Tuesday morning. Mayor Warren told the Governor that Newton hopes to be the first Green City in the Commonwealth. 

 

Mayor-elect of North Adams, Richard Alcombright, told the Governor he hopes to encourage growth at Mass MOCA as well as growth in other local industries to facilitate economic development in his city.


 

Newly elected Mayor of Newburyport, Donna Holaday addresses the Governor. Next to her (right to left) are Mayor-elect Joe O'Brien of Worcester, Mayor-elect Elaine Pluta of Holyoke, and Mayor-elect of Brockton, Linda Balzotti, and Mayor-elect Richard Alcombright of North Adams.

  

Photo Credit: Sarah Gordon/Governor's Office
 

9C revisions to Cherry Sheets for Fiscal Year 2010

Governor Deval Patrick announced his plans to reduce state spending in light of the projected $600 million shortfall in state revenues on October 29, 2009. Governor Patrick's plans included spending reductions under M.G.L. Ch 29, Section 9C that will impact state aid to cities, towns and regional school districts. We have posted amended FY2010 cherry sheets that reflect these reductions.

 

These reductions include an $18 million reduction to regional school transportation aid, a $514,000 cut to the regional public library appropriation and a $284,000 cut to public library aid. Also included in the Governor's 9C reductions was a $5.2 million reduction to the Charter Tuition Reimbursement account. However, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education estimates that the remaining balance of this account is sufficient to fully reimburse for this program so there is no change to estimated Charter Tuition Reimbursements. These changes are not likely to materially impact the ongoing tax rate setting process.

 

Local officials should also be aware that Governor Patrick has submitted additional reductions to the legislature contained in House Bill 4303. Proposed reductions in House Bill 4303 include a $10.8 million reduction to the state-owned land program, and a $5 million reduction to the police career incentive program. Since both of these reductions require legislative approval, the FY2010 cherry sheets will not be amended for these two programs until after the legislature takes action on the bill and it is signed by the Governor. Once that occurs, local officials are advised that the amended FY2010 cherry sheets must be used for tax rate setting purposes. For budgeting and tax rate planning purposes the proposed reductions for these two programs can also be found online.

If you have any questions regarding either the Governor's 9C reductions or House Bill 4303, please do not hesitate to contact either Lisa Juszkiewicz at (617) 626-2386 or Jared Curtis at (617) 626-2320.

Please save the date - Regionalization Conference with Lt. Gov. Tim Murray

Increasingly, many Massachusetts cities and towns are considering regionalizing functions of local government but are unsure of how to proceed. We are pleased to invite you to a conference designed to answer these questions, sponsored by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, MARPA, and the Division of Local Services.

 

This day-long conference on September 3, 2009 will feature hands-on tools and practical presentations from a broad spectrum of current municipal collaborations. Participants will learn how to begin the process of collaboration, how to fund shared services and hire shared staff, and will receive template contracts, budgets, and agreements that can be brought home.

 

We have designed the workshop to be easily accessible and affordable, and we hope you can join us! Registration materials will be sent in the coming week. Look here as well for more information.

Property Type Classification Codes Booklet

A revised Property Type Classification Codes Booklet was released today.  The changes reflect Chapterland code revisions in Open Space and Chapter 61 and 61A categories as well as the deletion of Exempt Property codes that are currently included in the GASB 34 Codes.

New PowerPoint Presentation on Time Adjusting Sale Prices

For most assessors it has been many years since the real estate market necessitated they consider whether or not Time Adjusting Sale Prices was important.  The Division of Local Services has created a PowerPoint presentation that demonstrates three generally acceptable methods of time trending in order to be of assistance to local assessors should they decide that trending is desirable.  

 

Newest edition of City & Town now available!

 The Division of Local Services is pleased to announce the newest edition of City & Town  is now available on-line!

 

Please click here to subscribe to City and Town and other DLS Alerts. By subscribing to this mailing list you will receive Informational Guideline Releases (IGRs), Bulletins, City & Town, Cherry Sheets and other informational mailings via email.

Fiscal Year 2010 Cherry Sheets

On June 29, 2009 Governor Patrick approved the FY2010 state budget (Chapter 27 of the Acts of 2009). The Division of Local Services has posted FY2010 cherry sheet estimates based on the appropriation levels appearing in the budget approved by the Governor. FY2010 cherry sheets are now available for downloading.

FY2010 cherry sheets posted on our website reflect the Governor's veto of $2,250,000 from the regional public library program.  If the Legislature overrides the Governor's veto, revised cherry sheets for the nine communities participating in the regional public library program will be posted to the website and those communities will be notified.

To review additional information about how the estimates were determined, click on the link at the bottom for an index of the FY2010 programs and links to individual explanations.

If you have questions regarding these cherry sheet estimates, please contact Lisa Juszkiewicz at (617) 626-2386, Jared Curtis at (617) 626-2320 or Donnette Benvenuto at (617) 626-2360.

Fiscal Year 2010 Local Aid Proposals

On June 19, 2009 the Legislature approved the Conference Committee's version of the FY2010 budget. The Division of Local Services has posted updated local aid estimates based on the Conference Committee budget recommendations to the Division of Local Services' web site.

Please be advised that these estimates are based on the appropriation levels appearing in the Conference Committee report and are subject to final approval by the Governor.

The estimate for Unrestricted General Government Aid reflects a reduction of $377.2 or 28.72 percent from original FY2009 levels. The Conference Committee budget also recommends reducing Chapter 70 by $79.0 million or 2 percent from the original FY2009 level, reducing Regional School Transportation from $61.3 million in FY2009 to $40.5 million in FY2010, and funding the state reimbursement for the Police Career Incentive program at $10 million.

Estimates for School Choice Tuition Assessments and Receipts reflect updated enrollments and costs based on final FY09 data. However, it is important to note that the Charter School Tuition Assessments and Reimbursements have not been updated with the FY2010 enrollments submitted by Charter Schools to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. These enrollment changes will be available by the time the Governor signs the FY2010 budget and will be reflected in the final cherry sheet estimates.

To review additional information about how the estimates were determined and what may cause them to change in the future, click on the link at the bottom for an index of the FY2010 programs and links to individual explanations.

If you have questions about these estimates, please call Lisa Juszkiewicz at (617) 626-2386, Jared Curtis at (617) 626-2320, or Donnette Benvenuto at (617) 626-2360.

Fiscal Year 2010 values for Centrally Valued Utilities – Telephone, Telegraph & Pipeline Companies

Local boards of assessors and all those interested can now check out the fiscal year 2010 pipeline company central valuations and new growth at the Division of Local Services’ website. These values can be found in the Local Assessment section entitled "Centrally Valued Utilities - Telephone & Telegraph, Pipeline Companies" or by clicking the above link.

 

The Commissioner of Revenue has determined, and therefore certified, the full and fair cash valuation of taxable telephone and telegraph machinery, poles, wires and underground conduits, wires and pipes of the centrally valued telephone and telegraph companies, as of January 1, 2009. These valuations are certified for fiscal year 2010 under the authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 39.

 

Property owners or boards of assessors wishing to appeal the valuation(s) must make an appeal to the Appellate Tax Board on or before July 15, 2009. 

 

If you are a municipality seeking additional information please contact Walter Sandoval Dusza at 617-626-4087 or bladata@dor.state.ma.us.

 

If you are a member of the legislature or a member of the press seeking additional information please contact S.J. Port at (617) 626 – 2377 or portsj@dor.state.ma.us.

Hearing on State Owned Land Proposed Valuations

Pursuant to MGL ch. 58 sec. 14, a formal public hearing for 2009 State Owned Land Proposed Valuations will be held by the Department of Revenue’s Bureau of Local Assessment in Boston, Massachusetts at the Saltonstall Building, 100 Cambridge Street, 6th floor conference room, on June 4, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. 

If you are a municipality seeking additional information please contact Jack Lyons at (617) 626 – 2368. 

If you are a member of the legislature or a member of the press seeking additional information please contact S.J. Port at (617) 626 – 2377.